Dallas Cowboys’ $33 million gamble could become much more important during OTAs and beyond for obvious reason
The Dallas Cowboys still don’t know who will carry the burden of the green dot on defense. But a surprise candidate was already mentioned by name by head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
There’s something Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t want you to know: his favorite pick to wear the green dot on defense.
With a revamped room of linebackers that lacks someone well-versed in the art of the green dot, it’s one of the biggest mysteries of the 2026 Cowboys. Though the Cowboys added multiple linebackers in the offseason, they mostly fit the archetype of a weak-side linebacker, not a middle linebacker.
That could lead to a creative solution, with one member of the secondary stepping up instead of a linebacker. I’m talking about $33 million free agent signing safety Jalen Thompson.
What is the green dot in football?
The green dot is used to indicate the helmet that has direct radio communication with the coaching staff, allowing him to receive calls from the sideline before the play clock reaches 15 seconds. Since only one player at a time is allowed to rock the green dot, it’s naturally one of the most important responsibilities in football.
- On offense, it’s always worn by the quarterback.
- On defense, it’s mostly worn by linebackers but there are exceptions.
The Cowboys admitted Jalen Thompson is a green dot candidate
While Schottenheimer suggested after drafting safety Caleb Downs that they will likely have a linebacker wear the green dot on defense, he recently mentioned Thompson as a candidate.
“It might be [DeMarvion Overshown], it might be Jalen Thompson, it might be Dee Winters, it might be whoever,” Schottenheimer said at rookie minicamp. “At the end of the day, communication comes down to not just the green dot, but the entire defense.”
The fact that Thompson is the only non-linebacker brought up by Schottenheimer, which is enough to raise an eyebrow or two. Keep in mind, Thompson is the biggest free agency signing the team has made since Brandon Carr in 2013. To add to the tease, Schottenheimer admitted there’s a mystery frontrunner in his mind.
“At the end of the day, I have my favorite,” Schottenheimer said. “But I’m not going to share it with you.”
The Cowboys may have a favorite, but they plan to train multiple defenders to wear the green dot, which is a seriously smart approach. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker said they have time to figure out who’s their best player for the green dot.
Big expectations for Thompson
Even though Downs is stealing the hype of the Cowboys’ rebuilt defense, Thompson is expected to be one of the biggest difference-makers on it. And it all starts with his versatility to play all over the field.
The biggest question for him when it comes to the green dot is if it ties him to play near the box more often than not. In 2025, Thompson spent 289 snaps at free safety, 320 snaps in the box, and 249 in the slot. Calling the defense from the box or the slot doesn’t appear to be too much of a challenge but what about when he’s tasked with a free safety alignment?
The Cowboys plan to figure out all of that and more when OTAs kick off in June 1.