Sports Illustrated deems this Cowboys safety most underrated player on roster
When you are labeled America’s Team, there are going to be a lot of household names on your roster. The Dallas Cowboys are known for having multiple players on the top jersey and merchandise sales list every year. NFL fans will always be looking to see what guys like Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Micah Parsons do.
But there are also players on every roster who make an impact but sometimes go unnoticed or underappreciated. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr put together a list deciding the most underrated player on every NFC team. Names included Eagles OT Jordan Mailata, Falcons CB A.J. Terrell, and Seahawks DL Poona Ford.
For the Cowboys, it was recently re-signed safety Malik Hooker.
When you think about the Cowboys’ defensive backs, the name that comes to mind is likely the league’s interception leader Trevon Diggs. Jayron Kearse and Anthony Brown also had impressive seasons last year. But, Hooker was also there proving his worth in Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme.
Malik Hooker didn't receive enough credit for his improvement as a run defender (and all-around tackler) for the #Cowboys defense last year.
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) June 7, 2022
His coverage talent, especially in deep zones, is already known but I think run defense gave Quinn & Co. the confidence to bring him back. pic.twitter.com/j6aWHzWn1a
Sports Illustrated names safety Malik Hooker the Cowboys’ most underrated player heading into 2022
After getting picked up by Dallas ahead of the 2021 season, the four-year veteran had 44 tackles, an interception, and a tackle for loss in just three games started. He started the year as a backup but had his chance to shine towards the end of the year. This season, the Cowboys hope that the former first-round pick can finally have a breakout year in the NFL.
Why hasn’t he lived up to the hype he got coming out of Ohio State? A tale as old as time: injuries. Hooker tore his Achilles in 2020 and has spent much of his years in the pros on the sideline. With a while to recover, this could be the year that the safety proves his doubters wrong.
Here’s why Orr believes he’s the most underrated player on the roster:
"Hooker was a great gamble last year for the Cowboys, who plucked the first-round pick from the Colts after a disappointing end to Hooker’s rookie contract. Hooker was one of Dallas’s best run defenders last year, accounting for almost 50 yards saved versus an average position player. The Cowboys gave up almost half an extra yard on carries in which Hooker wasn’t on the field. He was, essentially, an additional, rangy linebacker in certain formations but also had the ability to swoop down and drop the hammer from the free safety spot whenever he was up top. As a pass defender, he also improved significantly. Hooker saw the most direct targets of his career last year but dropped his opposing QB completion percentage by almost 25% from his career best. Though the safety position has been devalued of late, two years and $7 million is a steal for a player who should be logging significant time this year."
In theory, his contract is so minimal that any decent production out of him makes him a steal. But with a secondary more solidified than it’s been in a while for this franchise, Hooker has an opportunity to thrive as a defensive back. With his first fully healthy offseason in a while and more time to learn from Quinn, the 26-year-old certainly still has room to grow.