Free safety Hooker makes free-agent visit to Miami
Even though the Dolphins drafted a safety early in the 2021 NFL draft, Miami apparently isn’t done trying to upgrade the team’s secondary.
That’s one way to explain why the Dolphins hosted free safety Malik Hooker, a former 2017 first-round pick whose career has been derailed by numerous injuries, on a first free-agent visit Tuesday.
Hooker, a 25-year-old who has contributed 124 tackles, seven interceptions and two fumbles recovered in the 35 games he’s played in 2017, 2018 and 2019, suffered an Achilles injury last September, and missed all of the 2020 season.
The Colts didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on the former Ohio State standout’s contract that comes with being a first-round pick, and Indianapolis hasn’t offered Hooker a new deal and appears ready to move on with George Odom and Julian Blackmon as the team’s starting safeties.
The Dolphins used Bobby McCain, Eric Rowe and Brandon Jones, last year’s thirdround pick, as the team’s starting safeties last season, and Miami selected Oregon standout Jevon Holland with the 36th pick in last weekend’s NFL draft
Holland was the alpha in the Ducks secondary for two seasons, allowing Oregon to roll out complicated coverage packages because of his versatility. Not only is he smart enough to become an immediate starter at free safety, and challenge McCain for the role he’s held the past two seasons. Holland has the versatility to line up as Miami’s nickel cornerback, and the skill set to cover tight ends in the role Rowe holds.
Coach Brian Flores, who showered Holland with praise after selecting him, seemed more excited about Holland’s selection than any of Miami’s other draft picks. So why would Miami explore Hooker? It’s possible that Miami could sign Hooker for far less than the $6.4 million McCain, 28, is scheduled to make this season in base salary and workout bonus ($25,000). Releasing McCain with a June-1 designation would clear his entire salary from the books.
But releasing McCain this offseason, before Holland has time to learn the intricacies of Miami’s complicated hybrid defense, would be risky because McCain served as the quarterback of Miami’s defense. He’s an extension of Flores on the field. And it was his unit’s strong play that allowed the Dolphins front seven to deliver the exotic blitzing that produced the majority of Miami’s 41 sacks in 2020.
McCain, who has served as a captain the past two seasons, began his professional career as the Dolphins’ nickel cornerback, and was moved to free safety by Flores in a move that motivated Minkah Fitzpatrick to demand a trade, which he got in 2019, being shipped to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2020 first-round pick and a swap of late-round selections.
It is possible that signing Hooker could allow McCain to return to the nickel role, which is held by Nik Needham. But the Dolphins signed Justin Coleman this offseason to compete with Needham for the inside spot, and Holland has experience playing nickel as well.
The Dolphins have hosted a couple of free agents on visits without signing them, but that’s usually related to medical concerns, like the one Hooker has.
The one thing Hooker could provide the Dolphins is a playmaker on the backend, a safety who has the instincts and skill set to create turnovers. Hooker has pulled down two or more interceptions each season. During his collegiate career with the Buckeyes, the safety pulled down seven interceptions in his 2016 season.
McCain has pulled down seven interceptions in the 87 games he’s played for the Dolphins, which includes 55 starts. Last season McCain registered 46 tackles and one interception in 16 games.
As for Rowe, he’s coming off his best NFL season, and used 2020 to show he excelled in covering tight ends. He’ll earn $2.5 million in base salary this coming season and has another $2 million tied to per game roster bonuses, and a $50,000 workout bonus. The Dolphins would create $5,525,000 in cap savings if he were released.