I'm a bit unsure of Pagano's ability to develop DBs (to put it nicely), and it sounds like Hooker still has some work to do in terms of tackling. BUT it's really hard to complain about basically BDPA (up for debate if you thought that was Allen/Foster/etc. at that point).
Basically, heading into this season, you had two box safeties (Geathers/Green, neither have proven to be centerfielders) and a CB-S convert at centerfield. I like Darius Butler, but that's not a long-term answer and I worry about Butler's durability at safety at that frame.
This -- if Hooker turns out to be a player -- gives you a long-term answer at FS/"centerfielder", gives you a DB with actual ball skills (Colts lacking that forever), gives you a chance to get Andrew Luck the ball back on any mid-deep pass play, and gives you a lot of short-term package flexibility between Geathers/Hooker/Butler/Green.
I had Reuben Foster pegged at this pick just 'cuz I think the Colts need to start physically intimidating people on defense again. They haven't since 2007. But Hooker, if as advertised, should at least put the fear of God in QBs looking downfield. Maybe buy some time for pass rush too.
So I'm content. But then, I've seen enough of these drafts to be jaded enough about the experience of getting really excited and convincing myself a pick is awesome, so I'm not proclaiming he's Ed Reed yet.
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