Cowboys to extend former first-round safety

Having been previously tied to a two-year deal worth $7M, Hooker has secured an elusive payday. The deal is in line with the pacts given to the non-Jessie Bates wing of safeties in this year’s free-agent class. Wilson and Juan Thornhill received $7M-per-year deals, while Vonn Bell signed for $7.5M per year with the Panthers. Jimmie Ward ($6.5M AAV) and Jordan Poyer ($6.25M) came in just south of that, with the Seahawks and Raiders respectively giving Julian Love and Marcus Epps two-year, $12M accords.

It is not yet known how Hooker’s AAV stacks up here, but his $16.5M guarantee tops all the above-referenced safeties. Wilson signed for $13.5M guaranteed. The Cowboys now have three safeties—Wilson, Hooker and Jayron Kearse—signed to veteran contracts south of $10M per year, making this an interesting all-middle-class trio at the position. Kearse is signed to a two-year, $10M contract.

This is a long time coming for Hooker, whom the Colts selected with the 15th overall pick in 2017. He came into his rookie year after an injury, and a September 2020 Achilles tear ended up concluding his Colts tenure. Indianapolis moved on after Hooker’s rookie deal, having passed on his fifth-year option prior to that injury occurring. Hooker had missed 15 games from 2017-19, having suffered a torn ACL in October 2017. This Cowboys stay has rebuilt the one-time top prospect’s value.

Hooker, 27, has missed just three games since initially signing with the Cowboys—on a one-year, $920K deal in July 2021—and has helped the team build a strong safety foundation. Once regularly connected to Earl Thomas, the Cowboys now have three proven defenders at the position. Pro Football Focus ranked all three of Dallas’ safeties in the top 30 last season. Hooker (13th) led the way, playing 861 defensive snaps despite starting just six games. Using a bevy of three-safety looks, the Cowboys saw Hooker intercept three passes and make 62 tackles last season.

The Cowboys came into training camp with lofty extension goals. Hooker’s name did not appear on this marquee, with CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele being Dallas’ top extension targets. Diggs has signed a five-year, $97.5M extension. The Cowboys have Lamb signed through 2024, via the fifth-year option, but have Steele heading into a contract year. Several weeks still remain for the Cowboys to find common ground there, however. Zack Martin remains a camp holdout, though Jerry Jones did not indicate a deal is coming for the future Hall of Fame guard.