Report: Dolphins hosting free agent safety Malik Hooker

One would think after the Miami Dolphins selected safety Jevon Holland with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft that Miami, which is bringing back effectively every contributor in the secondary from last year’s team, would be all set at the safety position. But if you’re ready to make that assumption, you very well may be wrong.

The news, as reported this afternoon by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, has the Miami Dolphins hosting former 1st-round safety Malik Hooker on a free agent visit this afternoon. Hooker, who was a top pick with the Indianapolis Colts back in 2017, has struggled with injuries to this point in his career, failing to log a 16 game season in four tries in the NFL.

But his ball skills and ability to play in the high post are well documented — and there’s apparently interest in Miami in potentially bringing him into the fray.

Expect to see free agency spending ramp up over the course of the coming days and weeks — NFL teams are officially in the clear with spending and avoiding any additional elements to be weighed out in the league’s compensatory pick formula. So with that locked in, teams are able to spend at will and secure added talents to their rosters without risking an extra draft pick for their troubles.

For the Dolphins, waiting for the deadline could possibly save them a 5th-round draft choice in 2022 according to current projections. But that extra 5th-round choice plus Malik Hooker could be an exciting combination: and that’s now a very real possibility. Between the addition of Holland in the draft and the potential to sign Hooker, one can’t help but wonder if Miami’s safety room is set to take on a significant change. Both Eric Rowe and Bobby McCain, last year’s starters, can be parted with and save significant cap space.

But before we get that far, Miami will need to decide Hooker is an investment they want to make.