The Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention before even taking to the field in Week 16, and Sunday's effort against the Los Angeles Chargers did little to lift the fans' spirits. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' unit, once again, did its best Swiss Cheese impression in the 17-point loss at AT&T Stadium, and at the center of it all was another disappointing performance from safety Malik Hooker.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert knew it was a good idea to throw everything Hooker's way, as the veteran defender allowed three catches on as many targets for 86 yards, a touchdown, and a 158.3 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus.
It'd be one thing if Sunday's effort was a one-off, but that isn't the case. As such, Hooker's future with the Cowboys must be in question -- if it wasn't already.
Malik Hooker Keeps Giving Cowboys Reasons to Move On
It's hard to believe that Hooker is already in his fifth season with America's Team.
The former Ohio State Buckeye was drafted 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2017, spending his rookie contract with them before signing with the Cowboys as a free agent in 2021. He slowly fought his way into a key role, proven by his starting in all but two of his last 43 appearances, including Sunday's outing.
But just because he's a starter doesn't mean Hooker is always effective at what he does. For example, his 87.5% completion rate and 158.3 passer rating when targeted this season are his worst efforts since becoming a Cowboy. He's also allowed 19.1 yards per reception (compared to 15.1 in 2024) and is on track to finish without an interception for the first time since 2020 — a season where injuries held him to two games.
He was once one of the NFL's better safeties earlier in his career. Now, Hooker is too slow to keep up with the NFL's top pass-catchers, proven by how he was burned by Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston on a 50-yard catch during the third quarter.
Speaking of which, back and toe injuries have also limited Hooker to 10 appearances this time around. Given that he's turning 30 years old in April, it wouldn't be surprising if fully-healthy seasons were less of the norm moving forward. And if he can't contribute on the occasions where he is healthy, it's easy to see why his outlook with Dallas might need some re-thinking.
Hooker is signed through 2026, and only time will tell if he'll end up playing out his contract in the Lone Star State. The Cowboys can save $7 million while only taking on $2 million in dead money next season if they cut or trade Hooker, according to Spotrac, giving owner/general manager Jerry Jones plenty to think about. The secondary could use some retooling, especially if Eberflus is given the boot, and moving on from Hooker would help with that process.
The struggling safety may use the final two games to end the season on a high note. At the same time, Hooker has given more than enough reasons to prove that a fresh start is what he and the Cowboys both need this offseason.