Cowboys Praised for Signing $33 Million Free Agent

Pro Football Focus highlights Dallas' acquisition of safety Jalen Thompson as a savvy move.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:55pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-tackle, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, silver, and white, capturing the raw energy and movement of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a defensive play, highlighting the Cowboys' aggressive approach to improving their secondary through free agency.Dallas Today

The Dallas Cowboys made a surprising move in free agency, signing safety Jalen Thompson to a 3-year, $33 million contract. This is a significant investment for the Cowboys, who have historically been reluctant to spend big on external free agents. However, the signing has earned praise from analysts, with Pro Football Focus highlighting Thompson as one of the most consistent and underrated safeties in the NFL.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' willingness to spend big on a free agent like Thompson represents a shift in their offseason strategy. Typically known for building through the draft and avoiding big-money free agent deals, this signing shows the team may be more aggressive in addressing defensive needs in free agency.

The details

The Cowboys signed Jalen Thompson, a 28-year-old safety, to a 3-year, $33 million contract on March 9. Thompson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, where he established himself as a reliable and productive player in the secondary. Pro Football Focus praised the signing, noting that Thompson has earned PFF coverage grades between 68.0 and 72.0 in five of his last six seasons, ranking 26th among 93 safeties in 2025.

  • The Cowboys signed Jalen Thompson on March 9, 2026.
  • The 2026 NFL season will be Thompson's 5th in the league.

The players

Jalen Thompson

A 28-year-old safety who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, establishing himself as a consistent and productive player in the secondary.

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who has historically been reluctant to spend big on external free agents but made an exception with the signing of Jalen Thompson.

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What they’re saying

“Thompson was among the most consistent and most underrated safeties in the NFL while playing alongside Budda Baker in Arizona. The Washington State product has earned a PFF overall grade between 68.0 and 72.0 in five of his past six seasons. His 69.2 PFF coverage grade this past season ranked 26th among 93 safeties.”

— Zolton Buday, Analyst

What’s next

The Cowboys will look to integrate Jalen Thompson into their defensive secondary and hope he can continue his strong play from his time with the Cardinals.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' signing of Jalen Thompson to a $33 million contract represents a shift in the team's offseason strategy, as they have typically been reluctant to spend big on external free agents. This move shows the team may be more aggressive in addressing defensive needs through free agency, rather than relying solely on the draft.