Todd McShay 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Jets select Malik Hooker

Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, ESPN draft guru Todd McShay recently dropped his final mock of the year. He has the New York Jets going with safety Malik Hooker with the No. 6 overall pick.

With the No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the New York Jets have a lot of options to consider in the grand scheme of things. Could they trade down? Could they trade up? Should the Jets consider taking a future franchise quarterback? ESPN draft guru Todd McShay has the Jets selecting safety Malik Hooker in his final mock draft of the year.

The Jets have some major holes to fill in their defensive secondary since last season, they were absolutely torched on a daily basis. Forget about playing elite quarterbacks, even mediocre ones had a field day against the defensive secondary of the Jets. That’s why it makes total sense for the franchise to take someone like Hooker.

In his collegiate career at Ohio State, Hooker totaled 84 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and seven interceptions. Hooker has a knack at disrupting plays with ease and precision. Since safety Calvin Pryor has regressed last season, the Jets could easily draft Hooker and have him compete this upcoming summer for his starting spot.

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Since the Jets are in a rebuilding phase, it’s important to infuse talented youth to as many starting positions across the team as possible. Hooker would be a force to reckon with and immediately bring a much-needed presence to a secondary in dire need of talent.

McShay knows that ultimately this would be a wise move for the Jets to make since the NFL is a passing league. Even if the Jets have an abysmal season in 2017, at least Hooker is the kind of player that will only get better over time.

Hooker has a high football IQ and will be molded into one of the next top safeties in the NFL in just a few years. Once everything hopefully comes together for the Jets in the next two to three years, Hooker will easily be one of their defensive cornerstones. He will instantly turn the defensive secondary of the Jets into a more formidable unit.