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NFL Draft

Potential 2020 Late Bloomer: Colts DB Malik Hooker

  • The Draft Network
  • June 21, 2020
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There aren’t many things more frustrating than a highly drafted player who hasn’t lived up to his potential. Whether it’s due to injuries, scheme, or a plethora of different factors, a good amount of first-round selections end up as disappointments relative to their draft status. Usually, this distinction can be found within the first three years of a career, as that seems to be the typical length before words like “bust” start making their way to the forefront.  

Sometimes, however, players take longer than that to break out, which categorizes them as, what I like to call, late bloomers. Perfect examples of late bloomers are players like DeVante Parker and Arik Armstead, two prospects that took a long time to develop but showed last season why they were worth the patience and slow approach.

For this exercise, the late bloomers I’m trying to unearth need to fit the following criteria...

  • First-round draft pick
  • Still on his rookie contract
  • Fifth-year option was declined

Last week’s installment featured Tennessee Titans wideout Corey Davis. This week, I delve into Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker, an uber-talented but oft-injured DB primed for a big season.

Where Hooker currently stacks up

At the start of Hooker’s Colts tenure, the former Ohio State defender looked like a star in the making. Racking up three interceptions in his first seven NFL games (at only 20 years old), Hooker showed incredible promise at an early age, displaying the same talents that got him taken 15th overall in 2017. As time has progressed, however, Hooker has proven to be a banged-up, inconsistent version of that same player. Not able to string together a full season throughout his bumpy career, the DB just had his fifth-year option declined, even with it only costing roughly $6.77 million.

To put that low salary into context, it would make Hooker the 16th-highest paid safety in the NFL, just ahead of inferior names like Bobby McCain ($6.75 million) and Ricardo Allen ($6.5 million). This decision would have seemed shocking just a few seasons ago—and to be honest, it’s still a little puzzling now—but proves that Hooker has been a disappointment relative to the high expectations that surround him.

Now, that's not to say that Hooker isn’t an above-average player capable of insane plays—because he is—but he’s yet to put forth a true breakout season and he needs to be considered as a late bloomer as a result.

https://twitter.com/TheBuckeyeNut/status/909498267922321414?s=20

Why you should be optimistic

Despite the ups and downs, it’s hard not to get excited when talking about Hooker’s upside from the back-end. That’s truly what the optimistic side of his evaluation comes down to: potential. Showcasing moments of brilliance throughout his 30-plus game career, Hooker’s seven interceptions (including an insane one-hander this past season) prove he has the ball skills and instinctual traits that can’t be taught. He also garnered plenty of leadership responsibilities in 2019, playing the third-most snaps on the Colts defense (778) and not missing a single rep in the last six games of the year.  

All of this, coupled with his ripe age (still only 24 years old) are two big reasons to stay excited and hopeful for a true breakout year. Only one month older than the Colts’ top pick last season in Rock Ya-Sin, Hooker had to learn an entirely new defense before last season and still played above-average football, a testament to his natural abilities as a player.

Yes, Indianapolis declined his option and took Julian Blackmon—a fellow free safety—in the third round in the draft, but Blackmon’s selection shouldn’t affect Hooker’s status whatsoever. The former Utah Utes defender is much more of a depth DB and special teams player as opposed to a full-on starter, while he’s also out with a torn ACL until at least October. It’s Hooker’s job and he can run with it, especially since his talent alone is more than capable of doing so.

So in summation, the job is lined up with no true competitors, he’s healthy, he has the motivation for a big contract waiting in his wings, and he’s now in the second year under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. If Hooker was ever going to take that step into true stardom, now is as perfect a time as ever.

https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1170827063240138753?s=20

Why you should worry

Hooker’s status is a complicated one, especially when you introduce not only his on-field issues into the equation but also potential health problems. Since his college career began (spanning the last six years), here are the injuries Hooker has dealt with:

  • January 2017, Groin (sports hernia)
  • January 2017, Labrum tear (hip)
  • October 2017, Torn ACL and MCL (missed final nine games)
  • October 2018, Hip strain (missed one game)
  • November 2018, Hip strain (missed one game)
  • January 2019, Foot injury (missed playoff game)
  • September 2019, Torn meniscus (missed three games)

All in all, the two knee issues are the only major health concerns that Hooker has truly had to deal with, but the constant threat of re-injury looks like it’s seeping into his film more and more noticeably as time progresses. This is quietly a huge issue, especially when you factor in trends that have startled to settle into his game.

Looking lethargic at times in 2019, whether it be with the injuries hampering him or with motivational issues, Hooker didn’t perform with the same patented range on the back-end a year ago, despite still playing relatively well in this regard.

Playmaking and athleticism are two of Hooker’s calling cards, and if injuries continue to worsen that part of his game, he isn’t good enough as a tackler and with his football IQ (at least as of yet) to compensate for that loss. This was evident in 2019, especially with his inability to provide the communication and energy that Eberflus’ defense needed.

With a rookie corner, rookie safety, and a struggling veteran Pierre Desir lined up as the secondary starters around him a season ago, Hooker didn’t step up into his expanded role, failing to succeed with tasks like being sound in his assignments, helping other players get aligned, and even igniting the entire defense as a whole.  

Yes, he’s only 24 and certainly shouldn’t be expected to handle all of that. Yes, it was his first year in a new system. Yes, he dealt with injuries. Yes, his overall play was still solid.

At the end of the day though, if Hooker wants to become a star he needs to provide all of what was entailed above. It’s time for him to become more than just a highlight reel and take his place as the centerpiece (or at least one of the cornerstones) of Indianapolis’ defense.

https://twitter.com/zkeefer/status/1257393623404027905?s=20

Likely outcome

Hooker misses a couple of games once again this year, but flashes with turnovers and ball skills in his available reps. Heading to the open market, he settles for either a short prove-it deal elsewhere or the Colts pony up and give him upwards of $8 or 9 million per year.

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