2017 NFL Draft: Is Safety Malik Hooker Still Top 10 Worthy?

Is former Ohio State safety Malik Hooker‘s situation going to force him out of the top 10 in the 2017 NFL Draft?

The 2017 NFL Draft is still a couple of months away, but with the 2017 NFL Combine coming up and pro days after that, this year’s draft prospects will be very busy. Ohio State University will have a number of prospects for the event but not everyone will get to showcase their skills.

There was plenty of hype for Ohio State’s Malik Hooker, but now that has slowed down. According to WalterFootball.com, the former Buckeye underwent multiple surgeries yesterday. One was for a hernia, while the other was to fix a torn labrum. Hooker will miss the combine and is going to be unavailable for four to six months.

Prior to this news, the New Castle, Pennsylvania product was my second ranked safety and a top three player overall. Projections have had Hooker as a top 10 pick, with some listing him as a top five pick. Safe to say there will be changes when the updated version is posted, but I don’t envision that much difference.

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Hooker had been dealing with the injuries throughout the 2016 season. Hopefully his recovery process goes well. Even if Hooker was healthy and did not have to deal with those surgeries, it would have been tough for him to top LSU’s Jamal Adams as the best safety in my eyes in the upcoming draft.

Hooker’s play on tape is very impressive and he backed it up in the stat sheet. In 2016, he accumulated seven interceptions, scored three touchdowns off of turnovers, 74 tackles, and four passes defended.

A first round filled with defensive players, especially early on is no surprise. There is plenty of depth after the stars too with the defensive backs. Some teams may prefer others ahead of Hooker now that he is on the mend.

Hooker is too talented and has too much potential to actually believe that he will drop significantly in the first round. Hooker should still be the first Ohio State player off the board, but cornerback Marshon Lattimore could give him a run for his money.

Hooker’s inability to workout during the combine is a tough break, but his film speaks for itself. Any chance of Hooker being a top five pick is out the door. However, he is still a top 10 player and he should be drafted closer towards the 10th pick.

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One thing to keep in mind for the Cleveland Browns too is their desperate need for a safety this offseason. If a number of EDGEs and quarterbacks end up as top 10 picks, Hooker could drop out of the the top 10 despite being a top player in the draft. As a result, Cleveland could be the beneficiaries and a great landing spot for him with their 12th overall pick.

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