Safety Malik Hooker hasn’t been a star in his four seasons with the Cowboys, but he’s been a consistent, reliable presence in the secondary. The nine-year veteran enters 2025 with a clear path to continuing in his starting role, and perhaps without enough appreciation for his contributions. Analytics site Pro Football Focus certainly thinks so, recently naming Hooker as Dallas’ most underrated player ahead of the upcoming season.
Hooker was one of three defensive backs from the NFC East to get recognized by PFF, joining Giants CB Andru Phillips and Eagles S Reed Blankenship. The Commanders’ player was TE Zach Ertz, who just turned in a very productive year in Washington despite turning 34 last November.