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In order for Gus Bradley’s Cover-3 defense to work, he needs a rangy-free safety that can cover the middle of the field. With only three players (two cornerbacks and a safety) in deep coverage, the free safety has to cover a ton of ground and needs to be able to make plays on the football.
The model for this is Earl Thomas, who ironically enough, is a free agent. However, that seems unlikely considering he didn’t play at all in 2020 and he turns 32 in May. But that type of player is what is needed to have a successful Cover-3 defense in the NFL.
There is only a handful of these types of safeties in the NFL as it’s rare to find players with elite instincts and athleticism required to thrive in that role. But one player that absolutely was born to play in that scheme is Malik Hooker, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.
Hooker is set to become a free agent next month as the Colts declined his fifth-year option last year. After suffering several injuries, he’s not expected to cost much on the open market. However, he could be one of the steals of free agency as he has proven to be a dominant cover safety in the NFL.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, Hooker was named one of the league’s most underrated soon-to-be free agents. Here are the site’s thoughts on Hooker entering the 2021 offseason:
“For that kind of contract, any cash-strapped team in need of a single-high safety should absolutely be in on Malik Hooker. The 2017 15th overall pick has had an issue with injuries throughout his career, most recently a torn Achilles in 2020. Still, Hooker can provide quality coverage over the middle of the field when he is healthy. He even managed to generate the 25th-most WAR among all safeties in the 2018 and 2019 seasons combined.”
Hooker is projected to earn just $2 million per season in free agency, barely above the veteran minimum. If that is indeed the cost to sign him, the Raiders should jump all over that as he can play the free safety role at a high level for whatever number of games he is active.
Don’t be surprised if Hooker ends up in the Silver and Black as he is a perfect scheme fit with Bradley and would immediately upgrade their defense. This is one of the best low-budget signings the Raiders could make this offseason.
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