The Dallas Cowboys improved their secondary when they signed Malik Hooker during the first week of training camp in 2021. Hooker, the former 15th overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft, arrived in Dallas after spending the first four years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. The seventh-year safety has displayed his ability to perform at a high level and could be the player Dallas has coveted from the safety position. His first four seasons have not come without struggle, as he missed 14 games in 2020 with a torn Achilles and more than half of his rookie season with a torn ACL and MCL. In making his return from the torn Achilles in 2020, Hooker played in 15 games with three starts in his first season in Dallas, and he notched 44 tackles (ninth on the defense), one stop for a loss, one interception and two breakups. Hooker signed a two-year contract extension with Dallas at the beginning of free agency in 2022 and combined with Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson to create a three-headed monster at the safety position, adding 67 tackles, three tackles for loss, three breakups, three interceptions and recovered a fumble for a 38-yard touchdown.
