Grading the signing: Cowboys get a defender tailor-made for new defensive coordinator at a great price

The Dallas Cowboys made a heck of a move in the first few hours of the NFL’s free agency frenzy.

Mar 9, 2026 4:39 PM EDT

Nov 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson (34) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at State Farm Stadium. — Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On Monday morning, I listed safety Jalen Thompson as one of the most underrated free agents the Dallas Cowboys could—and should—sign.

Hours into the two-day negotiating period, the Cowboys agreed to terms with Johnson for a three-year deal worth a maximum $36 million. It’s a move that should get fans very excited.

Thompson is the chess piece Cowboys defense needs

When new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker was asked about the identity of his defense, he mentioned a key word: Multiple.

Thompson is tailor-made for such an endeavor, as he is a versatile defensive back capable of playing multiple spots in the secondary. In 2025, he spent 289 snaps at free safety, 320 snaps in the box, and 249 in the slot, per PFF.

The latter is important. Parker has described nickel as one of the biggest priorities on his defense, and big-sized DBs capable of playing in the slot have become a staple of the league’s best defenses. See Nick Emmanwori with the Seattle Seahawks, Kyle Hamilton with the Baltimore Ravens, and others.

While Thompson may not be a full-time nickel, his versatility should prove very helpful to keep offenses guessing on a defense expected to show a ton of two-high safety shells pre-snap.

What Thompson brings to the table

“The most recent player selected in a supplemental draft, back in 2019, Jalen Thompson established himself as a solid starter and is the 49th free agent on A to Z Sports’ top 100 list,” writes Wendell Ferreira. “Going to his third contract in the NFL, he’s only 27 years old still. Last season, he had five pass breakups, allowing a 98.4 passer rating when targeted. Thompson is also a solid tackler and good run defender in general. He finished 2025 with a sack, 72 tackles, and 10 stops. His positional versatility along the secondary is a big plus — he’s had 2,430 snaps in the NFL as a deep safety, 2,017 as a box safety, 1,149 in the slot, and even 140 as a boundary corner.”