Cowboys Bolster Defense with Jalen Thompson Signing

3-year, $36 million deal for veteran safety to shore up Dallas secondary

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a 3-year, $36 million contract with free agent safety Jalen Thompson, who spent the past 7 seasons as a starter for the Arizona Cardinals. Thompson, known for his hard-hitting style and ball-hawking abilities, will look to improve a Dallas defense that gave up the most points in the league last year.

Why it matters

The Cowboys are making a concerted effort to upgrade their defense this offseason, having also acquired edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Packers earlier in the day. Thompson's addition should provide a significant boost to the Dallas secondary, which struggled mightily in 2025.

The details

Entering his 8th NFL season, the 29-year-old Thompson has been a starting strong safety for the Cardinals since 2019, averaging 98 tackles per season over the past 5 years with 9 career interceptions. He was part of an Arizona secondary that allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (10) and the 4th fewest points in the league last season. New Cowboys secondary coach Ryan Smith has familiarity with Thompson from their time together with the Cardinals.

  • The deal was finalized on March 9, 2026.

The players

Jalen Thompson

A 29-year-old safety who has been a starter for the Arizona Cardinals for the past 7 seasons, known for his hard-hitting style and ball-hawking abilities.

Ryan Smith

The new secondary coach for the Dallas Cowboys, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals and has familiarity with Jalen Thompson.

Rashan Gary

An edge rusher who the Cowboys acquired in a trade with the Green Bay Packers earlier on March 9, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Jalen Thompson is the kind of physical, playmaking safety we need to take our defense to the next level. His experience and leadership will be invaluable.”

— Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys (Dallas Morning News)

What’s next

The Cowboys will look to further bolster their defense through the upcoming NFL Draft, where they hold the 16th overall pick.

The takeaway

The Cowboys are making a concerted effort to upgrade their defense this offseason, first by acquiring edge rusher Rashan Gary and now by signing veteran safety Jalen Thompson to a lucrative 3-year deal. These moves signal the team's commitment to building a more formidable unit to support their high-powered offense.