Cowboys Sign Former First Round Pick to Contract Extension

OXNARD, CA— The Dallas Cowboys have signed a former first round pick to a contract extension.

The Cowboys have signed Malik Hooker to a three-year contract extension worth $24 million with $16.5 guaranteed and an $8 million signing bonus. Dallas took a chance on the oft-injured safety who proved health wasn’t an issue under the Star.

Drafted out of Ohio State in 2017 by the Indianapolis Colts, Hooker had a good rookie season with three interceptions and four passes defended from the safety position. Over the next couple season, he would snag four picks then injuries started to affect his progress. During the 2020 season, He tore his Achilles and was placed on injured reserve.

The Cowboys took a chance and signed Hooker in the 2021 offseason and the signing paid off. Now, Hooker, along with Donovan Wilson and Jayron Kearse form a three-headed monster in the Cowboys’ secondary.

Safety has been a tough spot in Dallas over the last couple decades. After Darren Woodson and Roy Williams, the Cowboys seemingly refused to put talent at the position, not using a high pick on one since 2002 when Williams was drafted in the first round. It seemed to be a thing for the Cowboys to move cornerbacks to safety, which is what they tried to do with Byron Jones, who ended up playing both but thriving at corner.

With Hooker, Kearse, and Wilson along with Stephon Gilmore, Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, and rookie Eric Scott Jr., who is having a great training camp so far, the Cowboys have an incredibly strong secondary, something sorely lacking in the past.

Now, the Cowboys have a huge question mark with Zack Martin, who has yet to report to training camp as he wants to talk about a new contract.