5 things Mel Kiper got wrong in his most recent NFL mock draft

Biggest mistakes in Mel Kiper’s latest NFL Mock Draft: 1. Hendon Hooker will not go in the first round

Hendon Hooker will likely be the fifth quarterback to hear his name called in this year’s draft, but that doesn’t mean it will be in Round 1. Expect Hooker to slide into Round 2 and be a strong temptation for teams looking to chart a new course at quarterback.

Kiper projects the Seahawks to trade back into the end of the first round to make Hooker their signal-caller of the future. It makes sense that Seattle would like to land him as Geno Smith’s heir apparent. This just happens to be the wrong spot in the draft for the Seahawks to execute that plan.

Hooker’s age is a big reason why teams should stay away from him in Round 1. He’s already 25 years old which limits his growth potential at the next level. He also thrived in one of college football’s most quarterback-friendly systems at Tennesee last season. His adjustment to NFL football will be large as a result.

Hooker has a chance to develop into a solid NFL starter, but he doesn’t possess the upside required to justify a first-round selection. Teams interested in his services will be happy to wait until the second round to snap him up.