The Dallas Cowboys have officially moved on from the Matt Eberflus era by hiring Christian Parker as the franchise's next defensive coordinator.
As is the case anytime there is a change at a major position on the coaching staff, there will be corresponding roster moves that will undoubtedly be made sooner or later. Given Parker's experience as the defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles over the last two seasons, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cowboys' struggling secondary be the first area he focuses on fixing.
This could be bad news for veteran safety Malik Hooker, as his performance for much of the 2025 campaign was nothing to write home about. When you consider the front office could save $7 million by trading or releasing the veteran this offseason, it seems safe to say that Hooker's stock is plummeting as we move closer to the start of the new league year.
Malik Hooker Could Be on His Last Legs in Dallas
While it should never be the only tool used to determine a player's effectiveness, grades and positional rankings from Pro Football Focus are useful when painting the full picture of a player's successes or failures. For Hooker, the advanced stats aren't flattering.
Hooker's overall PFF grade of 60.8 ranked 66th out of 98 qualifying safeties. Ranking among the bottom third of all players at your position isn't the best first impression to make on your new coach. Unfortunately for Hooker, the deeper you dig, the uglier it gets.
No eligible safety allowed more yards per reception (19.7) than the former Ohio State Buckeyes standout did during the 2025 campaign. Quarterbacks took full advantage of this as Hooker allowed an opposing passer rating of 155.8, the second-worst mark of all eligible players at his position.
Parker will undoubtedly allow Hooker to make a positive impression on him, but there is little doubt that the defender will be fighting an uphill battle. One look at his play from the 2025 campaign shows that it didn't take long for Hooker to find himself in the doghouse of the coaching staff and fan base.
What Hooker can do with that opportunity to impress Parker could be the determining factor in just how long he remains part of this franchise as the start of the new league year inches closer with every passing day.