This Browns-Colts Trade for Malik Hooker Would Give Cleveland a Stacked Secondary

An aggressive offseason has the Cleveland Browns poised to compete for the postseason in a top-heavy AFC come 2020. However, as revamped as the roster is, first-year general manager Andrew Berry has both the necessary assets and cap space at his disposal to continue making smart renovations.

Assuming the Browns address the offensive tackle position -- their most glaring need -- with the No. 10 overall pick of the Draft, the franchise should look to unload one of its mid-round selections for proven NFL talent.

Cleveland's secondary could be improved and Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker, who is reportedly the subject of trade talks, comes to mind as somebody who would have an immediate impact.

Hooker's injury history is a bit concerning, but he's played in at least 13 games in each of the last two seasons. The former No. 15 overall pick is an athletic box safety, a bruising tackler, and an elite ball hawk. That's exactly the type of player the Browns need.

The Colts have yet to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which suggests they're reluctant to give him an extension. For 2020, the 24-year-old is slated to bank $2.18 million.

Indianapolis should ask for one of Cleveland's two third-rounders, No. 74 and No. 97 overall, in return for Hooker. Our guess is that the former will have to go in order to land the former Ohio State star, and there's nothing wrong with that since the Browns can control him for two years.

The Browns have a win-now mindset and Hooker would go a long way to bolstering their genuinely average secondary. As evidenced by the DeForest Buckner trade with San Francisco, the Colts are more than open to trades.

In return for Hooker, GM Chris Ballard would receive a draft pick he could select a prospect with or use it in a package to trade up even higher.