Tennessee fans irate over Titans passing on Hendon Hooker for Will Levis
Tennessee football fans saw the perfect opportunity for the Titans to keep Hendon Hooker at home but they took Will Levis instead.
Will Levis’ slide out of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft finally ended on Friday, on the second pick of the second round, as the Titans traded up to grab the Kentuck quarterback.
Of course, there were plenty of fans who loved the pick, who had a projection as high as the Top 5 but fell after three other quarterbacks were taken in the first four picks.
Not everyone in Tennessee was stoked about the selection though. Tennessee football fans in particular saw the move as a slap in the face of Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker, who was still on the board.
Here’s how some Volunteers fans, and others, reacted to the pick.
Tennessee football fans wanted the Titans to pick Hendon Hooker over Will Levis
I would like to announce I have entered my name into the NFL fanbase transfer portal. We had a good run @Titans but supporting that brain numbing draft pick is something I can’t do. No interviews at this time. Recruitment is wide open. Respect my decision.
— Diamond Vols (@DiamondVols) April 28, 2023
I guess the Titans could care less about having fans in East Tennessee… and winning
— Austin B (@Austin_Vols) April 28, 2023
Will Levis getting picked over Hendon Hooker is a damn crime
— Stone Cold Vols🍊 (@stonecoldvols98) April 28, 2023
HENDON HOOKER WAS RIGHT THERE @Titans
— Lace✨ (@lace_jay_bee) April 28, 2023
When the @Titans trade up for a QB and take Will Levis with Hendon Hooker available. pic.twitter.com/iBDvo9qr8M
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) April 28, 2023
When the Titans think Levis is the better draft pick than Hendon Hooker pic.twitter.com/3dZ5bZS46c
— Justin stokely (@jcstokely) April 28, 2023
What would social media look like in the state of Tennessee if the @Titans drafted Hendon Hooker over Will Levis? What about the revenue on jersey sales between Hooker & Levis? What about ticket sales with Hooker in Nashville? It’s all about winning, but that #Titans pick hurt.
— RockyTopVols (@RockyTopVols) April 29, 2023
How Tennessee doesnt pick Hendon Hooker blows my mind. If it doesnt work you’d sell a hell of a lot of jerseys at leaat.
— CC (@TheActualCC) April 28, 2023
How are Titans fans going to react in a couple years when they realize Hendon Hooker is going to have a better career and their team took the Kentucky quarterback over the Tennessee quarterback?
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) April 28, 2023
Skip Bayless was on the side of Tennessee fans, revealing serious doubts over whether Levis will work out in the NFL.
I believe Hendon Hooker will be better than Will Levis, whose poise and command never sold me. Some Jake Locker there. Some Wentz, Paxton Lynch. But I guess Vrabel likes him a lot more than he does Malik Willis.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 28, 2023
Hooker certainly put on a show in college before suffering a devastating knee injury. He had the Volunteers hurdling towards a potential College Football Playoff berth with 3135 yards and 27 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 11 games of action.
The thing about draft picks is you never really know in the moment. But eventually the picks all show their worth, or lack thereof.
It may take a few years, but the Titans will either be accepting apologies from those Volunteers fans if Levis becomes a star or cursing their mistake in passing on Hooker if he takes off with some other team. Or maybe both will work out? Maybe both will flame out? We’ll have to wait and see.
Next. Grades for every first round pick in the NFL Draft. dark