FRISCO, Texas – On Thursday, the Cowboys officially signed former Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson to his three-year deal.
Thompson, 27, is looking forward to the next chapter of his NFL career in Dallas after spending the previous seven years in Arizona.
"It's been amazing. Blessed. Just an amazing opportunity to play for America's team," Thomspon said. "This is a once in a lifetime type of opportunity. I'm ready to get it going."
In his mind, Thompson believes the Cowboys are getting a versatile defender who doesn't necessarily have a specific position label attached to him, and can do whatever is asked of him in the secondary.
"A physical safety, a safety that can do pretty much everything. I don't consider myself just a safety, a DB in general," Thompson said of his game. "Nickel, corner, free safety, strong safety, wherever they need me at, that's where I'm playing… Just a player that can bring some wins to the team and can just be versatile. Show the versatility and can help the team out in many different ways."
In the early conversations that Thompson has had with Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker and secondary coach Ryan Smith, who coached Thompson in Arizona, he has a good feel with what he'll be asked to do in Dallas.
"It was more so just whatever we need you at," Thompson said of his conversation with Parker. "Come over here and be versatile and show what you can do, and that's the thing that I've been trying to do with [the Cardinals] for the longest time. Coming over here, that's just my plan. You guys need me at nickel, you guys need me at corner, safety, wherever, I'm willing to do it. Defensive back is the position for me."
The familiarity Thompson has with Smith is a plus, and was one of the reasons why Thompson elected to sign with the Cowboys in free agency.
"I used to go in there and watch film with him when they transferred me down to nickel a little bit," Thompson said of Smith. "He just brought the cool element to the game, the calmness of it all. Not really stressing about too much, just really going out there and letting your God given talent do the job. [Smith] was a big part of my decision to come here. Great coach, great leader and feel like I can make some plays underneath him."
While some players can feel more comfortable in one position versus another, Thompson truly feels confident in his abilities to fill any role required in the secondary.
"I feel like I can do it all, not really a comfortability thing with any position so far," Thompson said. "If you just watch the tape, you can see I played pretty much everywhere, and I feel comfortable pretty much doing every position."
Playing multiple positions isn't the only comfortability that Thompson has. He believes he's got a strong grasp already of the type of defense Christian Parker wants to run, and how he can excel within it.
"Everything is pretty much familiar to me in terms of scheme, in terms of how [Parker] coaches," Thompson said. "So I'm ready to get it going. I also got my coach [Ryan Smith] who came from the Cardinals as well. So ready to get going with him as well."
