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Analyst casts doubt on Cowboys’ $33 million defensive move

Originally posted on DallasCowboysCommunity
By Archana Ramakrishnan | Last updated Jul 11, 2026 1:40 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys invested heavily in revamping their secondary this offseason, but not everyone believes the move will pay off. One NFL analyst has even called veteran safety Jalen Thompson the team’s potential “biggest bust” for the 2026 season, questioning Dallas’ $33 million investment in him.

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton is the one making that call, arguing that the Cowboys overpaid for the former Arizona Cardinals safety.

“They signed Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million contract, which is a bit rich for a safety with minimal ball production and subpar coverage metrics over the last two seasons,” Moe Moton wrote. “He lacks playmaking consistency and could be a free-agent disappointment.”

Moton of Bleacher Report argued that Thompson’s declining ball production and inconsistent coverage over the past two seasons make the contract difficult to justify.

Thompson entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 Supplemental Draft and spent seven seasons with the Cardinals before joining Dallas.

Across seven seasons, he has recorded a total of 578 tackles (397 solo), two sacks, 14 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, and nine QB hits across seven years and 99 games played (87 starts).

“Thompson hasn’t recorded an interception since the 2023 campaign,” Moton wrote. “Though he’s registered nine pass breakups in that time frame, the seven-year veteran also allowed passer ratings above 102.”

According to Moton, opposing quarterbacks posted passer ratings above 102 when targeting Thompson over the past two seasons, including 120 in 2024.

While Moton believes that Thompson may fail to justify the significant financial investment made by the Cowboys, one Cowboys insider believes that Thompson could prove to be a seamless fit for Christian Parker’s defensive scheme.

Jaylen Thompson brings more than veteran experience to Dallas

Patrick Walker of DallasCowboys.com wrote that Thompson brings in a fresh mix of youth, versatility, and veteran experience to the Cowboys’ secondary.

“He’s also one of the most disruptive safeties in the NFL, as many wide receivers can willingly attest,” Patrick Walker of DallasCowboys.com wrote. “He’d like to up his interception tally, starting with his tenure in Dallas, but he was signed to a multi-year deal for a reason.”

Walker believes his familiarity with the secondary coach Ryan Smith (during their stint with the Cardinals) could be an added advantage to the safety.

Walker believes Thompson’s versatility with Dallas’ defensive system gives him a strong chance to outperform outside expectations, setting up one of the more closely watched free-agent additions on the Cowboys’ defense this season.

This article first appeared on DallasCowboysCommunity and was syndicated with permission.

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