FRISCO, Texas — For executive vice president Stephen Jones, Malik Hooker is an example of what can happen when the Dallas Cowboys take a chance on a former first-round pick from another team. Jones discussed that approach Tuesday on DLLS Sports.
Jones said Dallas has long been willing to bet on players who entered the league with a blue-chip pedigree.
“I think it’s, you give them their chance to come in and give yourself a real chance to evaluate them,” Jones said. “We’ve had former first-round picks in here that never make. We’ve also had former top first-round picks that we like, like Malik Hooker, who’s come in here and done an amazing job for us and played to his first-round grade. And so it can be all over the place. We’re not naive. We know sometimes guys never, unfortunately, never meet that perception of being a first-round pick.”
“But there are guys that get a change of scenery and then end up playing to, play into that type of blue-chip status, if you will, of being a five-star, of being a first-round pick,” Jones continued. “And they figure it out in a different environment, a different culture. It pays off for them.”
Malik Hooker’s Path From Indianapolis To Dallas
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Hooker 15th overall in 2017 out of Ohio State. He tore an Achilles tendon in 2020 and reached free agency the following spring.
Dallas signed him in 2021. Hooker played 15 games that season with three starts and finished with 44 tackles, one interception, and two pass breakups.
He is now in his sixth season with the Cowboys and has 195 interception return yards for his career. Hooker and Caleb Downs are on the initial 53-man roster alongside Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, Markquese Bell, and Alijah Clark.
The Former First-Round Picks On The Dallas Cowboys Roster
Dallas has several former first-round picks on the roster who began their careers elsewhere. The New York Jets used the No. 3 pick in 2019 on Quinnen Williams. Later in that same draft, the Green Bay Packers took Rashan Gary at No. 12.
Green Bay also drafted Kenny Clark, taking him 27th overall in 2016. Clark has appeared in 157 games, recording 38 sacks and making three Pro Bowls. He came to Dallas in the August 2025 trade that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay. Three months later, the Cowboys used part of that return in the deal for Williams.
Broderick Jones is the newest of them. Dallas traded for the tackle on Aug. 29, sending the Pittsburgh Steelers 2027 third- and sixth-round picks. He went 14th overall in 2023.
Dallas starts the regular season Sept. 13 on the road against the New York Giants. NBC has the game from MetLife Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:20 p.m. CT.
