The Tennessee Titans put defense first in the 2019 NFL Draft, making four of their six picks to bolster the defensive side of the ball.
One of these was former Iowa safety Amani Hooker, chosen with the No. 116 overall pick in the fourth round.
Here are six things to know about the former Hawkeye:
1. He used his combine performance to help his high school out.
Hooker thought of the NFL combine as more than just an opportunity to show teams what he could do.
He started a “Pledge It” campaign, asking the community for a pledge for each inch of his vertical leap to help raise money for Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
“For all the kids at Park Center who deserve the same love, support and education that I received, I am honored to use this great opportunity and platform that I’ve been given to support my school and my home town.”
2. He could end up being one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Safety has been one of the Titans’ thinnest positions for the past couple of seasons, but Hooker has the potential to change that. Originally projected to be a second-rounder by many analysts, there’s no clear reason why Hooker fell.
He impressed at the combine, recording a 40-yard dash time of 4.48 seconds and 6.81 three-cone.
3. He’ll be a key factor in keeping opposing offenses from getting first downs.
It’s clear that Hooker is a solid all-round defensive player. But he was also one of the most prominent members of an Iowa Hawkeyes defense that ranked 12th in the country in first downs allowed.
Expect Hooker to keep offenses from moving the chains in upcoming seasons.
4. His zone coverage skills may be his best trait.
There’s a lot Hooker brings to the table for the Titans, but his zone coverage skills are arguably his best trait.
Draft analyst Kyle Crabbs pinned this as Hooker’s strong suit ahead of the draft.
“Is within his element within 20 yards of the LOS,” he wrote. “Confident in ability to pass off route stems but also quick to identify teammates in a bind and hold his water a little longer. Quick and nimble in between zones and shows wonderful anticipation.
5. His range and overall athleticism may be his worst traits.
While Hooker does well with zone coverage, his range and athleticism could cause him some issues.
Analyst Jon Ledyard made note of this before the draft.
“Super limited athlete who can’t really open up and run well enough to defend a ton of territory in zone,” he wrote. “Doesn’t have the speed to play single-high and have an expansive area of effectiveness. Didn’t give up many big plays, but had some moments on tape where receivers ran by him too easily, long speed to carry vertically over his head is a big question.”
6. He ranked No. 44 in PFF’s Top 50 before the draft.
Hooker has been impressing scouts and analysts with his performances throughout his college career, and it showed when Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 44 on this Top 50 list.
Hooker recorded an overall grade of 90.7.
