The Cowboys made a host of shrewd moves this offseason, and with Caleb Downs taking the limelight, one veteran is being forgotten about.
The Dallas Cowboys' offseason has been fruitful, with Brian Schottenheimer and the front office getting to work to fix the defense, which was just downright awful last season.
Once Christian Parker was hired, Dallas set out to get him pieces that would fit into his system, and a host of shrewd players came through the doors at The Star.
Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke, and Cobie Durant headlined the free agency moves. Then came the draft, and Caleb Downs sent Cowboys Nation into overdrive as the franchise selected him 11th overall after moving up one spot.
The hiring of Parker and the drafting of Downs have taken all of the headline-worthy attention this offseason, and perhaps rightly so, but that has meant some of the other new players signed have been forgotten about.
And one is Thompson, the safety from Arizona.
Signing a three-year, $33 million deal, which for the Cowboys is their biggest free agent spend in what feels like forever, but I get the sense that some are forgetting just how good Thompson is.
Playing 15 regular-season games in each of the last three years, Thompson stays on the field, and when paired with Budda Baker, the Cardinals had a secondary that was tough to go against.
Incredibly consistent when he's on the field, Thompson can be a jack-of-all-trades for Parker in 2026, given his ability to play across several positions. At slot corner, free safety, and even as a linebacker if absolutely needed.
With so much change happening on defense, Thompson is perhaps the ideal signing to keep everything together on the backend, and yes, Downs will have all of the eyes, but Jalen can be, in my mind, equally as effective.
He was good in Arizona, and that perhaps gets forgotten because, well, the Cardinals were just bad last season, along with being in Baker's shadow
Now he comes to Dallas with almost no fanfare, and while I have heard some talk up the move for him, it has been few and far between.
Yes, Downs and the rookie class have gotten the attention, and Parker as defensive coordinator as well, but for me, one of the best pieces of business the Cowboys have done this season is getting Thompson through the door.
He's gone under the radar so far this offseason, but once the regular season starts, I doubt he'll stay there for long.
