Malik Hooker comeback campaign was successful enough in 2021, earning him a new two-year deal with the Cowboys this offseason. But the former 1st-round pick has plenty more to prove, and Dallas is banking on even better performance from the projected starting safety next season.
Once the 15th-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Hooker's never lived up to his hype coming out of Ohio State. But in Malik's case injuries have made it difficult to find any consistency, only appearing in about 62% of the games he could have over the last five seasons.
A torn Achilles during the 2020 season was enough for the Colts. Having already declined Malik's 5th-year option for 2021, Indianapolis ended the disappointing tenure and allow Hooker to sign elsewhere.
The Cowboys made Hooker one of their many free agents last offseason to get a one-year contract. He was a late addition, signing five days after the start of training camp, and began the year as a backup.
While he didn't make the dramatic leap that Jayron Kearse did in 2021, Hooker ended the year on a high note. He was becoming a more visible presence with his play-making and consistently outshining Damontae Kazee. It was no surprise when Dallas re-signed Hooker over Kazee in March.
That new contract is a modest one; $7 million over the next two years with an addition $1 million in incentives. It was cheap enough that Hooker could've returned to a backup role but now, with the draft and most free agency activity behind us, Malik appears to be your starting free safety in 2022.
No, Malik Hooker still hasn't validated his former draft status. But still only 26 and after so much tribulation with medical issues, Malik may be getting one of his better chances for success this year in Dallas.
This will be Hooker's first full offseason with the Cowboys. That, plus last year's experience, will give him a much stronger foundation going into next season than he had before.
That Malik was playing his best ball late into last season is an encouraging sign. That he didn't miss any games due to injury, only COVID, is an even better one. The arrow is pointing up on the still-young safety and Dallas definitely needs him.
Aside from Hooker and Kearse, Donovan Wilson is the only other safety of consequence currently on the roster. But with Wilson and Kearse both built for the strong safety role, Malik is likely to go unchallenged for the other starting spot.
Unfortunately, guys with Hooker's history of hip and knee issues don't always get back to their full potential. But even if Malik never reaches his peak again, there's plenty of room below that for Hooker to still be a capable of even exceptional starter for the Cowboys.
Hopefully, for all our sakes, Malik Hooker's comeback has only just begun. Last year was about proving he could stay healthy and contribute and that was successful. If Hooker can take things to the next level and be a consistent difference maker, the Cowboys defense may have a surprise weapon in 2022.
