2017 NFL Draft: Making the Chargers Case Between Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams

The Los Angeles Chargers need a safety in the 2017 NFL Draft. The two most talked about options are Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams – who should they pick?

After the departure of Eric Weddle the Los Angeles Chargers have been fairly weak in the safety department. Weddle, whether you agree or not, is one of the best safeties in the league. Once a menacing force in San Diego, the Chargers now have a fragile secondary in Los Angeles. The Chargers desperately need a safety in the 2017 NFL Draft, and there is really only two options.

That’s not to say that there are not other safeties in the draft to select for the Chargers, but the drop off from number one and two to three is huge. The Chargers are not looking for a developing safety, they are looking for an impact playmaker that can make a mark in their first game in the NFL. There are only two guys that fit that billing, Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams.

NFL analysts have been going back and forth on Adams and Hooker, which safety is better, which will be taken first – who will go to what team and whether or not they are as good as touted.

Heck, I have even seen some mock drafts where both safeties were taken before the Chargers seventh overall selection. Should that happen the Chargers will be horribly out of luck, but that is what the NFL is after all – bad luck.

Chances are that when the 2017 NFL Draft rolls around to the seventh overall selection there will only be one of these dynamic safeties left. At first, the popular consensus seemed to be Hooker falling to seventh, now, the focus has seemingly shifted to Adams.

However, what if both safeties are left when the draft rolls around to the newly relocated Los Angeles Chargers; which safety should they select? The choice, well, is not as easy as you would think.

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First of all, the Chargers cannot distinguish much from the players combines. NFL.com gave Hooker and Adams a 6.7 and 6.6 rating, respectively. It is so strange too because the two are vastly different in play style, yet quite frankly, it could be a flip of a coin.

Malik Hooker is a hawk, the man is a lurking presence that can attack air balls in an instant. He is alarmingly quick for his speed, and while he is not the biggest hitter in the world, he knows how to attack the football and do it with ease. His seven interceptions in 13 games definitely attest to that.

Meanwhile, Jamal Adams is a leader on the field. He is a physical playmaker that could serve as the two headed face of the Chargers defense. He may not have as much playmaking ability as Hooker, but his presence alone would be huge for the Los Angeles Chargers.

This is showcased in the stats, Jamal Adams only had one interception last season compared to Hooker’s seven, yet Adams only outdid Hooker in tackles by two. Hooker seems to have the statistical advantage, while Adams has the hard-hitting presence.

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With the dynamic of the current team, although some may see Adams as the more valuable option, Hooker should definitely be the choice on the Chargers radar. Joey Bosa is already the face of the defense in Los Angeles, now, the Chargers can favor Hooker’s playmaking ability over Adams’ hard-hitting leadership in the 2017 NFL Draft.

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