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 his 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.