Jalen Thompson Named One of NFL's Most Valuable Safeties

Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson isn't considered to be the best safety on his team. though Pro Football Focus has graded Thompson as a top five player at his position. 

PFF recently ranked the NFL's ten most valuable safeties, and Thompson earned a fairly high spot at No. 4 with a WAR (wins above replacement) of 0.23.

Analyst Gordon McGuinness laid out the criteria by saying, "Safety is a position that captures a group of players with a range of playing styles. Included in this group are players who excel deep downfield in coverage but also those who are elite when it comes to playing downhill and attacking opposing offenses."

He added, "An undrafted free agent back in 2019, Thompson is on pace to earn a career-high PFF grade. He moves around the defensive backfield for the Cardinals but has lined up in the box or the slot on 543 of his 711 defensive snaps this season."

Only Kyle Hamilton, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jabrill Peppers finished above Thompson. 

Thompson has been considered an underrated player in the league, and new coach Jonathan Gannon has been impressed with his output. 

“Yeah, he’s playing well. I mean, we deploy him in different ways. We put a lot on his plate. I think between him and (S) Budda (Baker), they have a really good understanding of where each guy’s going to be on the pre-snap stuff," he said following the win vs Pittsburgh. 

"The pre-snap stuff (in terms) of making certain calls, making sure everyone’s on the same page, adjusting the formations and the coverages, and fitting in the run game. He does it all for us, and the takeaways are kind of a byproduct of being in the right position, playmaking, being where he’s supposed to be, playing with good technique and then making the play when it comes to him. He’s had a good run here the last month or so.”

Thompson is second only to Kyzir White in total tackles with 62. He's also the only Cardinals player with multiple interceptions (3) and is tied for the team lead in passes defensed with five. 

His cap hit jumps from $5.2 million this season to $12.8 in 2024. Thompson is under contract through 2025.