Cowboys' safety Malik Hooker signs three-year extension worth $24 million

Cowboys’ safety Malik Hooker is going to be signing a three-year contract extension worth up to $24 million. The deal includes an $8 million signing bonus that will be paid in the next 15 days and $16.5 million guaranteed.

The deal ties him to the Cowboys through the 2026 season. The news was reported on Friday afternoon by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who was told by Hooker’s agent, David Mulugheta.

Last season, Hooker snatched three interceptions for the Cowboys and racked up 67 tackles, including three tackles for loss. He started just six of the team’s 16 games, but played 861 snaps, the third most in the secondary behind Wilson and Trevon Diggs. The Ohio State product also returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown.

Expect him to continue to be a key contributor for the Cowboys during the 2023 campaign.

He has struggled mightily with injury issues throughout his career, but when healthy, has demonstrated the elite ball skills fans saw out of him when he starred in college for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Hooker underwent thumb surgery this offseason. On October 22, 2017, Hooker tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee when he was with the Indianapolis Colts. In February of 2017, he also had to go through two surgeries to repair a hernia and a torn labrum.

Despite the injuries he’s battled over the years, he’s gone on to snatch 11 interceptions during his six seasons in the NFL.

After redshirting his first year with Ohio State in 2014, Hooker played in all 13 games in 2015, racking up 10 tackles, while playing mostly on special teams. During his redshirt sophomore season in 2016, he dominated at free safety. In his first game of the season, he snatched two interceptions. He finished the season with seven total interceptions, showcasing his elite ball skills.

On November 29th, Hooker was named first-team All-Big Ten. After the season, Hooker decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 15 overall selection in the first round.

A dominant two-sport athlete coming out of high school, he scored over 1,000 points in his basketball career for New Castle (New Castle, Pennsylvania). The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was rated as a three-star prospect in the 2014 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.