(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, free agent safety Malik Hooker visited with the Steelers yesterday. He has also had visits with the Dolphins and the Cowboys this offseason.
Hooker is a New Castle, Pa. native and was a first-round pick out of Ohio State by the Colts in 2017, but he has been plagued by injuries in his four years in Indianapolis, which is why they didn't pick up his fifth-year option.
Hooker played just two games last year before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. In his four seasons with the Colts, he started just 35 of 36 games. When healthy, however, Hooker has been productive when it comes to getting interceptions, recording at least two interceptions in each of his first three seasons. Being a ball hawk was what he was known for coming out of Ohio State.
The Steelers could definitely use some depth at the safety position to back up Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick, but it would have to be a cheap deal for Hooker. His injury history is just too worrisome. However, he does have tremendous potential if he can stay healthy. That's a big IF though. If the Steelers do end up signing Hooker on a cheap deal, I look at it as a low-risk, high-reward move. Similar to the Dwayne Haskins signing, who was also a first-round pick out of Ohio State, so I wouldn't have an issue with it.
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