Malik Hooker is still trying to get his career back on track from when he was a 2017 1st-Round pick and elite prospect coming out of Ohio State. The Dallas Cowboys are willing to give him another opportunity, re-signing the safety to a new two-year, $8 million deal ahead of 2022 free agency.

Hooker joined the Cowboys late last offseason and eventually worked his way into a large share of the snaps at safety. He only started three games in 2021 but was playing his best football late in the year, making Damontae Kazee an afterthought this offseason.

Indeed, Malik Hooker has agreed to a new two-year deal with the Cowboys. Played his best football down the stretch after ramping up return from that 2020 Achilles injury. Could have a bigger role on defense next season.

— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) March 15, 2022

Turning 26 in April, Malik will hopefully blossom in a second season with Dan Quinn’s system. Staying healthy enough to appear in 15 games last year was a great start to his comeback, but now Hooker needs to make a bigger impact on the field.

The big unknown right now is how much competition there will be at safety. Will the Cowboys re-sign Jayron Kearse after a breakout season or let another team reward his 2021 effort? How much will Dallas prioritize the safety position in the draft after years of looking the other way?

As it stands, Hooker and Donovan Wilson would be your projected first-team safeties next season. That’s not a horrible place for the Cowboys to be in but it leaves the position thin and question marks about both starters.

At only $4 million per season, Hooker’s deal makes him either an affordable starter or a quality backup with the size and skills to play both spots.

This contract leaves Malik Hooker’s future role with the Cowboys up in the air. But at the very least, we now know he’ll be competing for a role in Dallas in 2022.