Colts bringing back Malik Hooker could’ve prevented multiple unnecessary moves

Every fan who’s been opposed to the Indianapolis Colts‘ moves this offseason sure hopes they’re eating their words — actually, even better: getting those words stuffed down their throat with a shovel — in due time.

Nobody wants to see their team fail. But if you look at Indy’s situation, you can’t help but feel let down. They could’ve went for the jugular this offseason in order to blow past the Tennessee Titans for sole supremacy in the AFC South.

Instead? Cost-saving free agency decisions. Upgrading at positions in the draft to prevent more spending. Everything has to be a bargain under Chris Ballard. It’s infuriating.

The Carson Wentz trade was great. We know it added to the salary cap and, in a sense, limited what the team could do the rest of the way. There are a lot of decisions we could talk about, but not bringing back Malik Hooker as one of those “bargain” deals is one we’re not discussing enough.

Former Colts safety Malik Hooker is visiting the Dolphins in free agency.

The Colts made the right decision not picking up Hooker’s fifth-year option. He’s been injury-prone and there’s no sense in spending more money on a safety than you need to.

Hooker tore his Achilles in his second game of 2020 with Indy and that was it for him. He’s played in just 36 games since debuting in 2017. But he’s going to be ready for 2021. And he’s a playmaker. He’s a ballhawk and a reliable tackler. He’s also familiar with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ system.

Re-signing him at a cheaper price to provide depth in the secondary feels like a smarter decision than signing free agent Sean Davis, who played in 6% of the defensive snaps with the Steelers in 2020 as a fifth-year plater, and drafting Florida’s Shawn Davis, who’s expected to mostly contribute on special teams during his rookie season, in the fifth round last week.

Hooker is a productive veteran (when he’s on the field) who can do it all. He would’ve been a great complementary piece coming off of an injury alongside Julian Blackmon and Khari Willis. He’s better than the veteran Davis, and he would’ve been contributing a lot more than the rookie Davis.

The Colts could’ve used that extra draft asset to acquire an offensive tackle, whether that meant taking one in the middle rounds or trading up for one in the second.

Instead, two Davis’s later, and the Colts really didn’t do much to improve their depth in the secondary. Though Shawn Davis could be a good piece down the road, it doesn’t bolster the team’s chances in the short-term, which is exactly what’s needed at this juncture.

Again, we hope we’re wrong, but right now we don’t see how many of these moves are going to help move the needle in 2021.

Colts changing draft strategy in 2021 may have hurt them

The Indianapolis Colts changing their draft strategy this year was reckless, as they could've made trades in either of the first two rounds.