Jerry Jones and his colleges at the Dallas front office appear to be working around the groundwork for a major roster shakeup that could see someone like the veteran safety Malik Hooker headed for the exit.
The move is not about his performances or game understanding, it is about a calculated play for the 2026 offseason where the Cowboys are reportedly wrestling with a salary cap deficit of over $30 million.
A $6.9 million decision
This split with Malik Hooker is tough to digest as he has been a steady presence in the Dallas secondary, but it is also true that the 2025 was a difficult year for the entire unit. Under a defense that ranked 30th in yards allowed and made NFL history as the only team to surrender over 30 points per game, even veteran leaders like him are under the microscope.
The thing is, the franchise is conisdering this move on Hooker as cutting or trading him this offseason would immediately create $6.9 million in cap space. He is now entering the final year of his three-year, $21 million extension. With none of his 2026 salary guaranteed, he has become a primary “cap casualty” candidate.
A defense in need of repair
The potential departure of Hooker is the first domino piece to fall in what is expected to be a total defensive change. The 2025 Cowboys’ defense was statistically one of the worst in franchise history, allowing 251.5 passing yards per game. Davenport once noted:
“The Cowboys need defenders who can play right away, Getting one early on Day 3 would be a gift
By moving on from Hooker while targeting experienced prospects, Dallas is banking on older college players being more “NFL-ready” to fix a broken unit immediately.
Read the full article here
