Malik Hooker deserves more props.
Safety Malik Hooker hasn’t been a star in his four seasons with the Cowboys, but he’s been a consistent, reliable presence in the secondary. The nine-year veteran enters 2025 with a clear path to continuing in his starting role, and perhaps without enough appreciation for his contributions. Analytics site Pro Football Focus certainly thinks so, recently naming Hooker as Dallas’ most underrated player ahead of the upcoming season.
Hooker was one of three defensive backs from the NFC East to get recognized by PFF, joining Giants CB Andru Phillips and Eagles S Reed Blankenship. The Commanders’ player was TE Zach Ertz, who just turned in a very productive year in Washington despite turning 34 last November.
The most underrated player for every NFC East team pic.twitter.com/CcSHw8jmE1
— PFF (@PFF) May 17, 2025
For Hooker specifically, PFF had the following explanation for his selection:
In previous years, the “most underrated” label in Dallas often went to DT Osa Odighizuwa. But having just received a new four-year, $80 million contract to stay with the Cowboys, Odighizuwa is clearly getting more recognition for his services.
Hooker isn’t nearly so well compensated. Both he and Donovan Wilson average just $7 million on their current deals, which are tied for the 25th-highest among all NFL safeties. That’s probably about right for Wilson, with some surprised that he wasn’t a salary cap casualty this offseason. But given where Hooker’s graded among his contemporaries, you could make the case now that he’s a bargain.
The veteran’s value could be going up in 2025 under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. When healthy, Hooker played in Eberflus’ defense from 2018-2020 with the Colts. So not only is he one of the elder statesmen on defense now based on just age and experience, but he could play a vital role in helping teammates transition to the new defensive scheme.
In an offseason dominated by discussions around star players, a guy like Malik Hooker can easily fly under the radar. We’re rightfully concerned about contract situations for Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, as well as injury recovery timetables for Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown. But along with those stars, you also need the guys who provide adequate starting work at a reasonable price. Hooker certainly qualifies, and there’s potential for him to be even better in 2025 with the defensive changes.
