The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2025–26 NFL offseason facing one of the most consequential defensive resets in recent franchise history.
Change is no longer optional in Dallas.
It is mandatory.
The overhaul officially began with the dismissal of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
That decision signaled a clear acknowledgment from ownership and the front office.
The defense, as constructed, was not good enough.
With a new coordinator expected to bring a different philosophy and scheme, personnel changes are inevitable.
Dallas will need reinforcements at all three levels of the defense.
The defensive line needs consistency.
The linebacker unit needs speed and reliability.
And the secondary, most notably, needs a complete reset.
A coaching change often accelerates roster turnover.
Players who fit one system may not fit the next.
Contracts that once seemed reasonable suddenly become expendable.
That reality is already surfacing in Dallas.
According to OverTheCap.com, two Cowboys defenders have been identified as potential salary-cap casualties.
The goal is simple.
Avoid a cap crunch while creating flexibility to reshape the roster.
One of the most notable names on that list is Malik Hooker.
Hooker is scheduled to earn $7 million during the 2026 season.
Crucially, none of that salary is guaranteed.
That detail dramatically changes the conversation.
Releasing Hooker would provide immediate cap relief.
It would also give the Cowboys financial room to pursue players better suited for the new defensive vision.
From a purely fiscal standpoint, it would be a cap-conscious move.
From a football standpoint, it reflects deeper issues.
Hooker’s 2025 season did little to cement his role as a long-term solution.
He appeared in just 12 games.
That marked his lowest total since joining the Cowboys ahead of the 2021 season.
Availability has become a concern.
When on the field, his impact was limited.
Hooker recorded 52 total tackles.
He added two tackles for loss.
He finished the season with just one pass defensed.
Those numbers are underwhelming for a starting safety in today’s pass-heavy NFL.
Context only makes the situation more troubling.
The Cowboys’ pass defense collapsed in 2025.
Statistically, it was among the worst units in the league.
Dallas allowed 251.5 passing yards per game.
They surrendered 35 passing touchdowns.
That total ranked second-most in the NFL.
Only the New York Jets allowed more passing touchdowns.
Adding to the embarrassment, the Jets failed to record a single interception in 2025.
Dallas’ struggles were not isolated incidents.
They were systemic.
Opposing quarterbacks attacked the secondary relentlessly.
Explosive plays became routine.
Third downs became automatic conversions.
When a defense ranks last in pass defense, individual performances cannot be insulated from team failure.
For that reason, Hooker’s future in Dallas appears increasingly uncertain.
Moving on from him would not be a personal indictment.
It would be a strategic reset.
And a necessary one.
A Defense That Bottomed Out
The numbers paint a bleak picture of the Cowboys’ defensive performance in 2025.
Across nearly every meaningful category, Dallas ranked near the bottom of the league.
In total defense, the Cowboys finished No. 30 overall.
They allowed an average of 377 total yards per game.
Even more alarming, they surrendered a league-high 60 total touchdowns.
That figure alone underscores how often opponents finished drives.
There was no situational resistance.
There was no red-zone toughness.
The pass defense was even worse.
Dallas ranked dead last in the NFL.
They allowed 251.5 passing yards per game.
They gave up 35 passing touchdowns.
Those numbers placed enormous pressure on an offense that was forced into shootouts weekly.
The run defense offered little relief.
Dallas ranked No. 23 against the run.
They allowed 125.5 rushing yards per game.
They also surrendered a league-high 24 rushing touchdowns.
When a defense struggles equally against the pass and the run, there is no schematic fix.
There is only reconstruction.
Why the Secondary Is the First Target
Given those rankings, the path forward is obvious.
The secondary must be rebuilt.
New bodies are needed.
New skill sets are required.
Most importantly, new accountability must be established.
A new defensive coordinator will likely prioritize versatility and communication in the back end.
Safeties who cannot consistently impact the passing game will be vulnerable.
Contracts without guarantees become leverage points.
That places Malik Hooker squarely on the chopping block.
Releasing him would not solve all of Dallas’ problems.
But it would be a start.
It would create flexibility.
It would open opportunities for younger players.
And it would signal that past performance will not protect roster spots.
What Comes Next for Dallas
The Cowboys are not merely tweaking around the edges.
They are confronting a structural failure.
This offseason will define whether Dallas can realistically contend again in the near future.
Cutting veterans is never easy.
But clinging to familiarity after historic defensive failure is far worse.
The front office must act decisively.
New leadership demands new standards.
And for the Cowboys, that process appears to be just beginning.
Whether Malik Hooker is ultimately released remains to be seen.
But the fact that his name is already circulating tells the story.
In Dallas, no one is safe.
And after the defensive collapse of 2025, that may be exactly what the franchise needs.
