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The Dallas Cowboys\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
If the incentives are met, it will be the richest external free agent deal in the history of the franchise.<\/p>\n
While he isn\u2019t a well-known commodity without a Pro Bowl nod to his name, Thompson does provide a unique level of versatility to the Cowboys\u2019 defense as a player with experience at both safety positions and at nickel cornerback. It\u2019s a part of his game he takes pride in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWherever the coaches need me at,\u201d Thompson said about where he sees himself playing. \u201cI 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\u2019m ready to get it going.\u201d<\/p>\n
While leaving the only NFL home he\u2019s known was difficult, the decision in free agency for Thompson was an easy one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a chance to go up there and meet the coaches at the facility,\u201d he said. \u201cIt really gave that family feel. That\u2019s what I feel like I\u2019ve been missing for the last seven years of my NFL career. Everybody was nice, everybody felt really welcoming. It went really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Specifically, Thompson\u2019s relationship with new secondary coach Ryan Smith \u2014 whom he has spent the last three seasons with in Arizona \u2014 was a big reason toward him signing in Dallas.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s definitely a players\u2019 coach,\u201d he said. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019 defense out of the basement of the NFL where it spent the 2025 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel like we have all the right pieces,\u201d Thompson said. \u201c[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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got all the right pieces. We\u2019re ready to go. I\u2019m 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\u2019s not the same defense as last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 6:00 AM.<\/p>\n