The Dallas Cowboys set the stage for the start of NFL free agency when they traded for Green Bay Packers pass rusher Rashan Gary on Monday morning.
While Dallas watched from the sidelines in the first hour of the signing frenzy, they are officially on the board, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting that they've signed safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $36 million deal. Thompson was a reported target for the Cowboys coming out of the NFL Combine, so that smoke was very real.
Thompson might not be a household name, but he was a rock-solid starter for the Cardinals, making 89 starts to go with 99 appearances in seven seasons. He is an outstanding and much-needed addition to one of the thinnest safety rooms in the league.
The #Cowboys make another addition, this time agreeing to terms FA S Jalen Thompson, formerly of the #AZCardinals, per me and @SlaterNFL.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2026
He gets a 3-year, $36M max deal done by Don Weatherell and Martin Fischman of @KlutchSports. pic.twitter.com/HgKuDZnFkb
The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly signed longtime Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson
Remember, deals can't become official until the start of the new league year on Wednesday. Barring any last-minute rejection, though, Dallas has found its news starting safety.
Coached by the Cowboys’ new cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith in Arizona, Thompson fits like a glove. He lines up all over the secondary, logging 389 snaps at free safety, 320 in the box, and 249 in the slot, per PFF, which credits him with just a 5.8 percent missed tackle rate over the last two seasons. That's fifth-best among safeties during that span.
The Cowboys restructured Malik Hooker's deal to free up $2 million in cap space, so he's not going anywhere. Hooker was circled as a potential cap casualty this offseason, but with veteran Donovan Wilson also hitting free agency, they couldn't take that chance.
Outside of Thompson and Hooker, the other safeties on the roster include Markquese Bell, Alijah Clark, and Zion Childress. Restricted free agent Juanyeh Thomas was not tendered, making him a restricted free agent.
Suffice it to say that safety was a major need, and signing Thompson shouldn't prevent Dallas from drafting one in April, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.