3 Cowboys in contract years who are primed for big seasons in 2023
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys are facing immense pressure as we approach the 2023 season. After crashing out of the playoffs before conference championship weekend for the 27th year in a row, Mike McCarthy likely has to advance that far in order to keep his job.
As far as the roster is concerned, another premature postseason exit could determine certain players' futures with the franchise, too.
Conversely, there's some players who could secure long-term futures with the organization so long as they meet or exceed expectations.
The Cowboys have several players who are entering contract years in 2023. Their list of free agents is lengthy, but we're talking about previous drafted or undrafted players who are still young enough to be core pieces.
Not every Cowboys player in a contract year is going to take the league by storm -- like Neville Gallimore and Malik Davis -- but there are certain players whom wer're expecting to increase their value with big seasons.
3 Cowboys in contract years primed for big seasons in 2023
3. Malik Hooker
We thought about giving this spot to Tony Pollard, but he was technically in a contract year last season. Pollard has since signed the franchise tag, though there's hope Dallas works out a long-term extension before July's deadline.
Hooker, meanwhile, is entering the final year of the two-year deal he inked before the 2021 season. Still just 27 years old, the Cowboys might view Hooker as a long-term chess piece of Dan Quinn's secondary relative to Jayron Kearse, who will also be a free agent after 2023, but will turn 30 next offseason and has battled injuries during his time in Dallas.
Hooker loses spotlight playing in the same defensive backfield as Kearse and Donovan Wilson, but he's an equally vital member of the three-headed monster. In 2022, he tallied his most interceptions (three) since his rookie year and logged a career high in tackles and scored his first defensive touchdown.
Hooker might not be viewed as a "core player," but he could secure a multi-year extension if he assembles another strong season. Given how comfortable he looked in Quinn's system last year, he's primed to do just that.