NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth stuns fans with Chiefs prediction for upcoming draft

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NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth is one of the smartest minds in football, but he raised eyebrows Tuesday when he unveiled his mock draft and had the Kansas City Chiefs making an interesting choice.

The reigning Super Bowl champions have the last pick of the first round on Thursday, and it seems like an addition would be an embarrassment of riches for a team that has made the Super Bowl in three out of the last four seasons, winning it twice behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

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Cris Collinsworth goes over how he reviews game film with Paul Daugherty on Feb. 8, 2022, a week before the Cincinnati Bengals play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. (Phil Didion/USA TODAY NETWORK)

In Collinsworth’s mock draft, he has the Chiefs selecting Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker at No. 31.

NFL fans were perplexed by the decision.

Collinsworth explained that Hooker could be used in an emergency if Mahomes were to be out for a quarter of a season at any time.

Hooker started his career at Virginia Tech before he transferred to Tennessee before the 2021 season and played two years for the Volunteers. He came on strong in 2021, when he had 2,945 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes and led Tennessee to a 7-6 record.

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"Sunday Night Football" broadcaster Cris Collinsworth reacts during the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 11, 2022. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Hooker really stood out in 2022 as he led Tennessee to a stunning upset of Alabama. He ultimately notched 3,135 passing yards and 27 touchdown passes, but tore his ACL at the end of the year and possibly hurt his draft stock in the process.

Even with the injury, Hooker has been predicted to go anywhere from the top 5 to the end of the first round in several mock drafts. He will certainly need most of, if not all of, the 2023 season to recover and could be vying for a starting spot in 2024. However, whether it is with the Chiefs is unclear.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker scores a touchdown during the game against Missouri in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Nov. 12, 2022. (Caitie McMekin / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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The Chiefs obviously have Mahomes as their quarterback for the foreseeable future. Right now, the team has Blaine Gabbert and Shane Buechele on their roster as backups for Mahomes.