According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys have signed safety Malik Hooker to a three-year deal worth $24 million with $16.5 million guaranteed.
Schefter reports that the deal includes an $8 million signing bonus that will be paid within the next 15 days.
Malik Hooker’s Career So Far
Hooker was the 15th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2017 NFL Draft. The following season, he had the highest forced incompletion rate in the NFL.
He arrived in Dallas in 2021 and is coming off the best season of his career. Hooker racked up three interceptions, the most in his career in a season so far and the second most within the Cowboys’ defense in 2022.
Hooker has become a staple in the safety room’s “three-headed monster” with him, Jayron Kearse, and Donovan Wilson. In the secondary, Hooker is quick and can cover much ground.
Hooker spoke to PFN exclusively and said he used this offseason to work with Kearse, which implements the “iron sharpening iron” mentality around the Cowboys’ team as a whole.
“Me and [Jayron Kearse] have been battling this offseason, and I’ve been burning him too. JK, I hope you hear this too,” Hooker said with a big smile.
Between the three of them, the Cowboys’ secondary makes it difficult for opposing offenses to be successful.
Malik Hooker Talks About Dan Quinn
Hooker is a reliable safety, consistently improving under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Ahead of training camp, Hooker spoke at SportsCon about his love for Quinn, calling him a “players coach.” He says his ability to listen to players and make adjustments is one thing, but what he does off the field is also special.
“I can’t give him enough praise, enough credit because he took a lot of our game to a whole other level, and I’m sure a lot of guys will tell you the same thing,” said Hooker.
Hooker recalls a game that he was fined for a late hit, and Quinn took care of the costs for him. After it happened in real-time, he thought it might end in a fine, and in the middle of the game, Quinn told him he would take care of it for him. Sure enough, he paid the fine for Hooker.
When asked how much the fine was, he said, “It was enough.”