Cowboys: Malik Hooker named most underrated player by PFF
As opposed to years past, the first thing people think of when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys these days is defense. After leading the NFL in turnovers for two consecutive years, that's not too surprising. One huge reason for the turnaround defensively in Dallas has been their willingness to invest in the safety position, […]
As opposed to years past, the first thing people think of when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys these days is defense. After leading the NFL in turnovers for two consecutive years, that's not too surprising.
One huge reason for the turnaround defensively in Dallas has been their willingness to invest in the safety position, something they neglected for years. The Cowboys did so by bringing in veterans Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker during the 2021 off-season.
With Donovan Wilson already on board, it gave the Cowboys a three-headed monster that defensive coordinator Dan Quinn quickly takes full advantage of in his Big Nickel package that features three safeties.
Wilson is a wrecking ball that is one of the tone-setters for the Cowboys' defense, and Kearse is one of the team's outspoken leaders. So, Hooker gets less of the spotlight out of the three, but Pro Football Focus feels what he brings to the table makes him the most underrated player on the Cowboys.
Hooker was one of 29 safeties last season to log at least 1,000 defensive snaps and among that group, he ranked fourth in overall grade and was just one of two safeties within that group to have both a coverage grade (74.8) and run defense grade (76.0) north of 70.0. Hooker ranked first among safeties last season by allowing just 0.19 yards per coverage snap.
Hooker was coming off of a torn Achilles when the Cowboys brought him on board, and his history of injuries since entering the NFL wasn't too flattering either. However, after being inactive for the 2021 season opener, Hooker played in 15 of the final 16 games with three starts and recorded 44 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups.
With a full season under his belt, the 2022 campaign was all about if Hooker could not only stay healthy but raise his game on the field, and he did both. Hooker played in 16 games (six starts) and set a career-high in tackles with 62 and tied his rookie outing in 2017 with three interceptions. Also, Hooker's coverage (72.4) and defensive grades (73.9) last season were the second-best of his career per PFF (2018).
Hooker is an extremely capable free safety that possesses the ball skills to play center field and can come up and give adequate run support. He's in the last year of his deal so there's no telling what will happen past this season, but Hooker will undoubtedly be a big part of keeping the Cowboys defense one of the league's best in 2023.
