Detroit Lions: 4 free agent defenders to consider signing
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions need to take a flier on Malik Hooker.
Malik Hooker is a former first-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts, but a string of injuries has hampered the former Ohio State standout to this point in his career.
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Safety is a position that the Lions hope to improve throughout the offseason, whether in free agency or the draft; perhaps both.
The organization spent back-to-back third-round picks in back-to-back years in 2018 and ’19 on Tracy Walker and Will Harris. Both have yet to come close to living up to their draft position, and it seems that time may be running out with the new regime in place.
I do feel that Walker can a be productive NFL safety, well, both players for that matter, and maybe Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will be able to elevate their game has been a respectable corner in this league for many years in his past. Both safeties need to vastly improve upon their coverage skills.
In the meantime, Hooker should come on the cheap, knowing his lengthy injury history. Hooker is coming off of a season-ending Achilles injury that warrants plenty of questioning whether he will be able to fully recover and play at a high level. If he’s granted a clean bill of health, the Lions should look to add the 25-year old safety to help bolster the position.
Hooker has yet to complete a full season during his four-year career but had appeared in 14 games in 2018 and 13 in ’19 after just seven as a rookie and two last season. That 2018 season has been Hookers’ best as he earned a respectable 79.1 overall grade which included an 81.6 mark in coverage.
Hooker had been linked to the Dallas Cowboys; who hasn’t of late in recent weeks? Still, with Jerry Jones recently signing a pair of free-agent targets that the Detroit Lions have shown interest in, Hooker may emerge as a possibility in Motown.
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Dallas recently added safeties Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, and former Lion Jayron Kearse. The former 15th overall pick is someone to consider signing before or even after the upcoming NFL Draft.