Cleveland Browns: Get the Colts on the phone about Malik Hooker

Could the Cleveland Browns look toward former first rounder Malik Hooker?

The Cleveland Browns have been dealt with quite the unfortunate hand as they continue to fight the injury bug. The latest injury, second round safety Grant Delpit, projects to be a massive blow to their depth chart as he more than likely would have beat out veteran journeyman Andrew Sendejo as the starting safety.

The Browns will now likely turn to last year’s fourth rounder Sheldrick Redwine to split time with Sendejo for new defensive coordinator Joe Woods. There is, however, another option involving a former first round pick who has begun falling out of grace with his current team.

Malik Hooker, an Ohio State alum, has faced his fair share of injuries throughout his young career but has displayed a world of talent when he is on the field. After declining his fifth-year option, the Indianapolis Colts and their 2016 15th overall pick both face uncertain futures ahead of them after drafting Julian Blackmon in the third round in the 2020 NFL Draft.

There have been rumors Cleveland may give the recently released Earl Thomas a look on a one-year deal, this could be a more lockerroom-friendly move to make at a low cost.

What Malik Hooker would cost the Browns

Given he only has one year left on his deal, Hooker could likely be acquired for a day-three pick, and maybe a future day-three pick at that. Day-three picks are fliers already, so there are certainly worse fliers to take than one on a former first round pick. He would be extremely inexpensive as well, should Cleveland opt to take this avenue instead of Thomas.

If traded, the Colts would still be on the hook (no pun intended) for Hooker’s roster bonus, leaving the Browns to pay just his base salary of just over $2 million. Given the league-lead in cap space, this is the move the Browns could make in a heartbeat without making the books so much as flinch.

What Hooker could bring to Cleveland

Should head coach Kevin Stefanski, Woods, and general manager Andrew Berry have hesitation with Redwine, a John Dorsey era selection, then they could opt to bring in their own guy. While Hooker does not bring the versatility to play in the nickel or in the box that Delpit was set to provide, he could bring Cleveland a solid presence over the top.

Despite missing significant time with injuries, Hooker has proven to be a ball hawk in Indianapolis, racking up seven career interceptions in 33 games. The Browns have not had a safety averaging a turnover every four games since the departure of Tashaun Gipson.

Let Karl Joseph, another former first rounder, stack the box, let Sendejo provide valuable reps in the nickel and as an overhang, and let Hooker patrol over the top of the defense. Low risk with a high reward, Berry must at least make a courtesy call to Chris Ballard and the Colts about their former first round pick in Hooker.