One player each team from the AFC South could trade before the season

Colts, Malik Hooker
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts: S Malik Hooker

After signing Phillip Rivers to a one-year, $25 million contract and drafting two high profile offensive weapons in the 2nd round, the Indianapolis Colts are going all-in on 2020. On the other side of the ball, they traded the 13th overall pick to San Francisco for DL DeForrest Buckner and rewarded him with the second-highest total contract in NFL history for a defensive lineman.

The Colts were in the playoffs just two seasons ago when led by Andrew Luck, so their roster is still talented enough to make a deep run thanks to some savvy drafting by general manager Chris Ballard.

Most of the Colts’ recent first and second-round picks have been hits, like Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, and Ryan Kelly, who have all been to Pro-Bowls while on their rookie deals. However, one 1st round pick who has not found similar success is 2017 draftee Malik Hooker, who recently had his fifth-year option declined.

Hooker has only played in 34 out of a possible 48 games and has yet to play an entire 16-game season. When on the field he has impressed his coaches and even has seven interceptions to his name, but consistency and health have been major issues.

Hooker graded out as the 45th highest-rated safety in 2019 (69.5 on Pro Football Focus), whereas his co-safety Kenny Moore placed in the top 20. After recently drafting safety Julian Blackmon in the 3rd round and signing former All-Pro Xavier Rhodes, the Colts’ secondary may be enough of a strength to move Hooker this season.

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