The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to sign jalen thompson on a three-year deal worth up to $36 million, marking the team’s first confirmed free-agent signing since the legal tampering period opened on Monday afternoon. This move signals a clear push to shore up the safety spot and follow the earlier trade for Rashan Gary with more defensive investments.
Cowboys three-year, $36 million deal for Jalen Thompson
The franchise reached terms on a three-year agreement that can total $36 million, and the signing is the Cowboys’ first move since the legal tampering period opened on Monday afternoon. Thompson arrives after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and brings versatility, having played in the slot, the box and at free safety. In 2025, he posted a 69. 2 coverage grade and a 63. 2 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus, and he allowed a 62. 3% completion rate with a 102. 3 passer rating when targeted — the lowest completion rate of his career.
Ryan Smith reunion and Malik Hooker pairing reshape Cowboys’ safety room
This signing reunites Thompson with coach Ryan Smith, who previously coached him in Arizona, and pairs him with Malik Hooker after Hooker’s contract restructuring kept Hooker in Dallas. Thompson could also see time in the slot, adding flexibility opposite Hooker, and his background includes starting 87 of the last 99 games and compiling 502 combined tackles, eight interceptions and eight quarterback hits during his tenure with the Cardinals.
If Cowboys continue early free-agency pushes after Rashan Gary trade — two scenarios
If X continues… the Cowboys press their early free-agency momentum — illustrated by the Rashan Gary trade and the jalen thompson signing — Dallas would appear to prioritize veteran defensive upgrades during the legal tampering period. That trajectory would likely produce additional veteran additions aimed at immediate impact, reinforcing a defense the team signaled it wanted to improve this offseason.
Should Y occur… if Donovan Wilson signs elsewhere or remains a free agent for a longer stretch, Thompson’s role could expand beyond a complementary pairing with Hooker, increasing his snaps in the box and slot. The context names Donovan Wilson as currently a free agent, so roster shifts at safety would directly affect Thompson’s deployment and the Cowboys’ snap distribution.
What the context does not resolve is the guaranteed-money breakdown of the three-year, $36 million agreement and the detailed snap plan for Thompson once camp begins. The next confirmed milestone in the context is continued activity during the legal tampering period that opened on Monday afternoon, which will reveal whether Dallas follows the Thompson signing with further defensive additions or roster moves.
