The Dallas Cowboys’ lone splash signing of free agency came in the form of former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson, who signed a three-year deal worth up to $36 million in incentives.
If the incentives are met, it will be the richest external free agent deal in the history of the franchise.
While he isn’t a well-known commodity without a Pro Bowl nod to his name, Thompson does provide a unique level of versatility to the Cowboys’ defense as a player with experience at both safety positions and at nickel cornerback. It’s a part of his game he takes pride in.
“Wherever the coaches need me at,” Thompson said about where he sees himself playing. “I definitely see myself playing in the slot. I definitely see myself playing deep safety. I definitely see myself playing strong, free, wherever they need me at. My film shows it. I got tape that shows it. I’m ready to get it going.”
While leaving the only NFL home he’s known was difficult, the decision in free agency for Thompson was an easy one.
“I got a chance to go up there and meet the coaches at the facility,” he said. “It really gave that family feel. That’s what I feel like I’ve been missing for the last seven years of my NFL career. Everybody was nice, everybody felt really welcoming. It went really well.”
Specifically, Thompson’s relationship with new secondary coach Ryan Smith — whom he has spent the last three seasons with in Arizona — was a big reason toward him signing in Dallas.
“He’s definitely a players’ coach,” he said. “He knows how to coach really well. Knowing that a guy like that is over here with an organization like this, it made the decision that much easier for me.”
Along with Smith and defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Thompson feels confident about the pieces in place after the first two weeks of free agency to at least bring the Cowboys’ defense out of the basement of the NFL where it spent the 2025 season.
“I just feel like we have all the right pieces,” Thompson said. “[Parker] puts the players in the right places. Players that have worked under him have been All-Pros. He brings that versatility to the defense where he puts guys in different places that do the right thing for the team.”
“We got all the right pieces. We’re ready to go. I’m excited to get going with the guys and meet the others as well and create our identity this year as a defense. We got to show that it’s not the same defense as last year.”
This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.