Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft: Vikings Put Kirk Cousins on the Hot Seat

The Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft will be a running mock draft that spans between now and round one of the NFL Draft. Each of the 31 picks (Miami forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering) will get a dedicated post. Here’s how it’ll work:

The Vikings are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …

The Pick Is In

QB Hendon Hooker — Tennessee

The Fit

Kirk Cousins led the Vikings to a 13-win season in 2022, but the Vikings have still been doing their homework on the QBs in this class. Why? Cousins turns 35 this summer and has voidable years that will allow Minnesota to move on after the 2023 season.

The Vikings draft their QB of the future at No. 23 and secure Kirk Cousins’ successor in Minnesota with this pick. Sitting behind Cousins for a year to learn the pro game and fully recover from a torn ACL could be the perfect setup for Hooker.

Scouting Report

Hooker racked up 2,945 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 2021 after transferring to Tennessee. He emerged as an early Heisman candidate in 2022, throwing for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns, two interceptions, 430 yards, and five scores on the ground before tearing his ACL. 

Hooker is tall and sturdy with a big frame and was an accurate volume passer for Tennessee. An aggressive downfield thrower who consistently gives his receivers a shot to come down with the big play. He totaled 13 touchdown passes of 20-plus yards, per PFF (tied for sixth most in the country). Even with the downfield shots, Hooker only had five turnover-worthy plays on 331 attempts. That’s a 1.1 percent TWP rate, which ranked third in the country in 2022.

The one knock on Hooker is that his basic half-field and high-to-low reads at Tennessee fueled his college production and efficiency. So, there is a learning curve awaiting him in the NFL. Still, he would be a solid pick for the Vikings here.

Final Thoughts: Size, strength, and athleticism. Hendon Hooker has all of the physical tools. But his accuracy and decision-making is the best part of his game. He will be a steal in this draft, and “Hooker to Jefferson” might be a nightmarish phrase for the rest of the NFC North in a year or two.

Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2. Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
4. Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
7. Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
8. Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
9. Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
11. Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
12. Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
13. New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
14. New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
15. Green Bay Packers — TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
16. Washington Commanders — CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
18. Detroit Lions — CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — S Brian Branch, Alabama
20. Seattle Seahawks — EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
21. Los Angeles Chargers — WR Jordan Addison, USC
22. Baltimore Ravens — WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
23. Minnesota Vikings — QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
25. New York Giants
26. Dallas Cowboys
27. Buffalo Bills
28. Cincinnati Bengals
29. New Orleans Saints (via SF)
30. Philadelphia Eagles
31. Kansas City Chiefs