How Jalen Thompson Received $40 Million Deal From Cardinals?

Jalen Thompson, a former supplemental draft pick, received a long-term contract extension from the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, keeping him under contract through the 2025 campaign.

According to a source who spoke to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, his new contract could be worth up to $40 million, with $24.5 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus.

In the 37 games he’s appeared in over the past three seasons, Thompson, who was selected out of Washington State in the 2019 supplemental draft, has started 25 of them. Along with Pro Bowler Budda Baker, he has established himself as a vital member of the Cardinals’ secondary.

Reason For Holding Jalen Thompson

The safety has established himself as a pillar of the Cardinals’ secondary, guarding the heart of the defence with Budda Baker.

Thompson was the Cardinals’ leading tackler last season, appearing in 17 games. He contributed to the defence of seven passes and three interceptions, both of which were second on the team, in addition to helping with run support.

Thompson has improved since breaking into the spotlight as a rookie in 2019. He is now in his fourth season in the league.

Thompson made 57 total tackles during his rookie season, playing in 15 games, nine of which he started.

The safety suffered an ankle injury in the first two plays of the season, placing him on injured reserve and raising expectations for 2020.

Before the Kansas City Chiefs dismissed wide receiver Josh Gordon this week, Thompson was one of only two active players on an NFL team selected in the supplemental draft. He has been added to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans.

After the NCAA declared Thompson ineligible for his final year at Washington State, he entered the NFL in the supplemental draft. The Cardinals gave up a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by choosing Thompson in 2019

Wise Choice by the Cardinals!

Some may argue that investing so much money in your safety pair when there are other obvious needs on the defensive side of the ball is a poor use of resources. I’d argue, however, that in today’s NFL, if you don’t have two safeties who complement each other and have different skill sets, you will find yourself playing from behind more frequently than you’d like.

Thompson was on the final year of his rookie contract, so if the Cardinals didn’t offer him a contract in 2023, someone else undoubtedly would. For one of the NFL’s most underappreciated defenders, who is finally receiving some of the credit he deserves, the deal makes perfect sense.

 

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