According to The Athletic’s Michael Lombardi, the Indianapolis Colts are potentially opening to trading safety Malik Hooker during draft week.
The former first round pick in 2017 was a top-tier draft prospect out of Ohio State, but has been a bit disappointing by most standards during his early NFL career, largely due to injuries.
Still, Hooker is an immensely talented player with excellent athleticism and ball-hawking skills. He can play that centerfield position for a defense, showcasing the type of range which got him drafted in the first round.
The Colts are yet to pick up his fifth year option, suggesting that they may be wary of extending him further than his rookie deal. He’s absolutely worth a look for the Cowboys, who have a need at safety and could use an influx of young, cheap talent on the back-end as a whole.
Senior writer Stephen Holder, who covers the Colts for The Athletic, tempered expectations a bit around these trade rumors, however. Holder is reporting that teams have called the Colts about Malik Hooker, and while they are listening, they are not actively seeking a deal.
Regardless – the fact this piece of information has gotten out to the public means something, and the Cowboys should put in a call to Indianapolis to see what they are looking for in return for Malik Hooker.
