Dolphins To Pay Hooker If Price Is Right: Safety Malik Hooker visits with Dolphins

Alain Poupart wrote:The team hosted former Colts safety Malik Hooker on a free agent visit Tuesday, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.

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Hooker certainly is an intriguing player, having been selected 15th overall in the 2017 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts after a stellar career at Ohio State.

Injuries unfortunately have been the biggest story of Hooker's career so far. He missed the final nine games of his rookie season in 2017 and, after playing 27 games over the next two seasons, missed all but two games last year because of a torn Achilles.

Hooker has seven interceptions in his career, including three in those seven games in 2017.

The visit certainly is interesting considering the Dolphins selected safety Jevon Holland in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, one year after taking safety Brandon Jones in Round 3, not to mention the presence of veterans Eric Rowe and Bobby McCain on the roster.

As we discussed earlier, though, Rowe and McCain have been mentioned as potential cap casualties, a notion the recent moves certainly aren't about to eliminate. The Dolphins would save $5.6 million of the the $7.1 million cap charge on McCain by cutting, according to overthecap.com, and would save $5 million of a $6 million cap charge on Rowe.

Given Hooker's injury history, which came after the Colts had declined to pick up his fifth-year option, it certainly figures that if he signed anywhere, it'll be some kind of prove-it deal.

It's also worth nothing that teams now can sign unrestricted free agents without affecting their compensatory pick for 2022.

On that topic, the Dolphins currently are scheduled to receive a fifth-round selection as compensation for losing Davon Godchaux to the New England Patriots, again per overthecap.com.

finfanatic wrote:When Healthy is the operative phrase.  I agree, loads of talent, but the problem is if he shows you something and you make decisions based on him being there, it is likely he will not be there all season. And you've cut McCain and Rowe maybe and now another Safety has to step up.

All these "cost nothing/doesn't hurt" deals carry serious risk IMO.

There is never a ZERO SUM transaction in the NFL.

I would say it doesn't hurt to LOOK AT HIM, but just know that if you sign him, you have to be prepared for an injury to cost him games.
That means the backup has to be sort of a starter-ish/backup, which costs more.

Killah Sith wrote:I just heard about this and raced here to share it but was way too slow.  Damn, I am disappointed I didn't get to come up with a killer Hooker headline.

Killah Sith wrote:Is Hooker a ball hawk?

Degarmo wrote:

Killah Sith wrote:Is Hooker a ball hawk?

That's $20.00 extra.

finfanatic wrote:

Degarmo wrote:

Killah Sith wrote:Is Hooker a ball hawk?

That's $20.00 extra.

Two good ones.

finfanatic wrote:Did the Phins not pay the Hooker?

DolFan 316 wrote:Oh come ON, people! The opening was RIGHT THERE!

HalCHorn wrote:

DolFan 316 wrote:Oh come ON, people! The opening was RIGHT THERE!

I swear it sounds to me like the guys are saying "Forrest Tucker" from 2:23 to the end.  I wonder if they're F Troop fans.  (The title track of this album was inspired by an episode of Beany and Cecil if memory serves)

EDIT: never mind, just did a little looking, apparently Bon Scott was a huge F Troop fan and this was his homage.  Cool.  Subtler than his Mork and Mindy homage at the end of Night Prowler, but funnier.

finfanatic wrote:Hooker's price makes Grier seek someone cheaper!