Colts are declining Malik Hooker's option
 

I am a little surprised. The fifth year option didn't carry a huge price tag - it was about $6.7MM. He has had more than his fair share of injuries, however.


https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/stat...87346246369284

https://twitter.com/zkeefer/status/1257393623404027905

Interesting


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had a feeling this was coming when the Colts lingered so long on the decision. Pagano's Ed Reed comparisons have simply not panned out so far. Nevertheless, the move saddens me a bit, but I think you're absolutely right that his injury history played a big role in this decision. We still have him for a year, so Hooker needs to go out and have a great season and prove the Colts wrong.

Looks like about half of the league declined the 5th year option for their 2017 first round picks.

Not sure what this means honestly

He’s never played a really prominent role in Eberflus’ system.

That could be because he’s a bad scheme fit or it could be that he’s never entirely recovered from his ACL injury, I don’t know.

While I generally do like the Eberflus scheme, if you can’t find space for a ballhawk with the range that Hooker does then I think your system needs tinkering.

It means that it's highly unlikely that he will be with the Colts in 2021.

Blackmon was drafted to replace him.

He doesn't offer much in run support, although the coaching staff did seem to coax a little better effort last season and he hasn't been the ball hawk everyone was expecting.

I have nothing bad to say about Hooker. Ed Reed he was not, but he never really stood out because of bad plays or mistakes. He was just kinda there and did more good than bad. IF they play this year, he should be motivated to stay on the field and ball out so he can get a good contract elsewhere.

It means he’ll probably be traded to the Jets.

He hasnt played 16 games in a season. He’s had a total of 7 ints in his career. I wouldnt call him a ball hawk