Dallas Cowboys could cut starting defender this offseason

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to rebound from a 7-9-1 record that saw the team miss out on the playoffs for the second consecutive season. One of the glaring issues for the team has been on the defense, which failed under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

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There was also a wealth of injuries on the defense that left Eberflus with little to work with. Instead of making a splash at free agency, owner Jerry Jones made one big move in bringing in Quinnen Williams and also bringing in Logan Wilson (who has now been cut). Now, due to a potential cap casualty situation, the team may be cutting a starting defender.

Trading Micah Parsons might be the move that will haunt Jones for the rest of his life, and it definitely put a huge damper on the Cowboys’ defense. Instead of being able to bolster the defense with a new pass rusher or players in general, Dallas has the second-worst cap space at a $24 million deficit.

That number can be dropped by extensions, contract restructures, and releases, which is likely a major reason the team may have to cut solid defenders. Longtime Cowboys beat writer Jon Machota listed safety Malik Hooker as a potential cap casualty.

“The Cowboys are unlikely to have a notable salary-cap cut. Right tackle Terence Steele could be a possibility, but it would make more sense financially to keep him for at least one more year. There’s also the defensive tackle position, where Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark are all making more than $20 million per season. However, it doesn’t sound like the Cowboys have interest in letting any of them walk. That leaves Hooker, who is entering the final year of his deal. Releasing him would save Dallas about $6.8 million against the cap. But that all greatly depends on how new defensive coordinator Christian Parker feels about Hooker and a safety position that isn’t very strong,” Machota wrote.

Teams that are stuck in cap hell often don’t get a lot of wiggle room and instead have to make choices if they are to bring in new talent. Jones is also notorious for not handing out big contracts, which is why the Parsons trade even materialized.

Dallas needs a new injection of talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. While losing Hooker might decimate that side of the ball even further, the Cowboys may not be able to afford anyone else without engaging in some cap-cutting moves that will not be popular.

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Hooker appeared in 12 games, picking up 52 total tackles and one pass defended. He also gave up a 67.9 completion percentage and 131.7 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks.

Hook’s stats might also not justify the money he will make in 2026, setting up his potential release for the Cowboys to save some much-needed cap space.

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