DSJ Quick Take: Hooker Points To Discipline, Not Talent, As Cowboys Open Camp
- What did Hooker say? The safety said the problem in recent seasons was not the talent on paper, and called the arrival of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker “a breath of fresh air.”
- What is Parker changing? Dallas is converting from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 after finishing last in the NFL in scoring defense in 2025.
- How much turnover is there? The Cowboys used five of their seven draft picks on defense and added Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, and P.J. Locke.
- What’s next? Dallas holds its opening press conference Tuesday at 1 p.m. CT and its first practice Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. CT.
OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys landed on the West Coast on Monday afternoon for a 26-day stay, and the unit that will decide their season is the one that has been almost entirely rebuilt since January.
Dallas finished 7-9-1 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for a second straight year. The defense ranked last in the NFL in scoring at 30.1 points allowed per game and last in passing yards allowed at 251.5 per game. The Cowboys were 30th in total defense and 23rd against the run.
Safety Malik Hooker was asked what went wrong.
“We always had, on paper, a talented defense, but it’s not just about being talented, it’s about putting it all together and being disciplined with it,” Hooker said. “Which we haven’t been these past couple of years… We’re looking forward to putting it all together.”
Matt Eberflus was fired after the season. Dallas hired Parker, who spent the previous two seasons coaching defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles under Vic Fangio, and is installing a 3-4 scheme in place of the 4-3 the Cowboys ran last year. As many as seven new starters could take the field on that side of the ball.
The Parker Hire
Hooker has faced Parker’s previous defense twice a year since 2024.
“[Parker’s] a young guy, smart,” Hooker said. “Obviously, we’ve been playing them every year two times a year, and seeing what he’s been able to do with those defensive guys over in Philly to coordinating that to here, but also adding a little more.
“We talked about guys talking about the defense of the Philadelphia Eagles and Vic [Fangio’s] defense, we’ve kind of built our own thing throughout OTAs. Just looking forward to putting it all together.”
Hooker is the longest-tenured defender on the roster. The 2017 first-round pick out of Ohio State spent four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with Dallas in 2021, and Parker is his fourth defensive coordinator in six seasons. He reworked his contract in March and carries a $6.56 million cap hit, the highest among Cowboys safeties.
“It’s just like a breath of fresh air,” Hooker said. “Being able to connect with CP and the new defensive coaches and stuff like that, talking to them, smart, detail oriented, and just look for us to come out and compete. I feel like with the details and the stuff we’ve put together throughout these OTAs, if we keep building on that, it’s going to be a special year for us.”
The Offseason Haul
Dallas acquired edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers on March 9 for a 2027 fourth-round pick, a year after sending Micah Parsons to Green Bay. Linebacker Dee Winters came over from the San Francisco 49ers in a Day 2 draft-weekend trade.
In free agency, the Cowboys signed Thompson to a deal worth $33 million, added Durant from the Los Angeles Rams, and brought in Locke.
The draft went the same direction. Dallas traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and selected UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence later in the first round. Downs has worked as the slot corner since rookie minicamp.
The safety room now holds Downs, Thompson, Locke, Hooker, Markquese Bell, Alijah Clark, and Julius Wood.
Offensive lineman Tyler Smith said the additions have been visible since the spring.
“I think we made a lot of acquisitions in the offseason, particularly on defense,” Smith said. “I think it’s going to pay dividends. I think we’ve got a lot of young guys just going through OTAs that I’ve seen have a lot of juice.”
It is the second season for Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, who has not reached the postseason in his first year on the job.
Dallas holds its opening training camp press conference Tuesday at 1 p.m. CT. The first practice follows Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. CT. The Cowboys hold their first practice in pads on August 3.
