Jalen Thompson, Cowboys Agree to Contract, Updated Salary Cap Amid 2026 NFL Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys used the first day of 2026 NFL free agency negotiations to bolster their secondary.

Former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson and the Cowboys have agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal, ESPN's Todd Archer and Adam Schefter reported.

The Cowboys were set to be $55 million over the 2026 salary cap before restructuring the contracts of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Smith to get $11 million under the cap last week, per ESPN's Todd Archer.

Dallas could potentially create further cap space by negotiating a longer-term deal with George Pickens, who is currently set to play the 2026 season under a $27.3 million franchise tag.

Thompson could earn up to $36 million deal with incentives, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Nick Harris.

According to Harris, the Cowboys see Thompson as "a safety with the flexibility to serve nickel/rover responsibilities."

If Thompson is able to make his incentives, his contract would set a record for the most annual average salary the Cowboys have ever paid for a free agent not already in the organization, according to Harris.

That standard was set at $11.3 million per year by Greg Hardy in 2015, per Harris.

Thompson's new contract is set to keep him in Dallas through his age-30 season in 2028.

Originally a fifth-round pick in the 2019 supplemental draft, Thompson went on to play seven seasons with the Cardinals.

He has played almost every defensive snap for the Cardinals when available over the last five seasons, most recently recording 1.0 sacks, 95 tackles and six passes defended through 15 games of the 2025 campaign.

Thompson also recorded five pass breakups, 10 stops and a forced fumble. He allowed 30 receptions on 980 defensive snaps, good for 18th among safeties, per PFF.

The Cowboys fielded one of the least effective defenses in the NFL last season, during which the franchise ranked 30th with 377 yards allowed per game.

Dallas responded by hiring Christian Parker, who will be a first-time defensive coordinator after most recently serving as the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary coach and passing game coordinator.

How much salary the Cowboys are able to clear out over the coming weeks will impact whether the franchise turns to free agency, trades or the draft to continue bolstering Parker's unit ahead of his first season as DC.