Jalen Thompson

Thompson has become a mainstay in the Cardinals secondary since the team used a fifth-round pick on him in the 2019 Supplemental Draft. In particular, he surpassed 100 tackles in both 2021 and 2022, and while he fell off to 78 tackles in 15 games last season, he notched 100 percent of the defensive snaps on 10 occasions and even posted a career-high four interceptions. Playing alongside free safety Budda Baker and middle linebacker Kyzir White somewhat hamstrings Thompson's potential, but the latter's track record should keep him in the IDP picture yet again in 2024.

The Cardinals don't lack for talent in the secondary, so how new coach Jonathan Gannon deploys them will be key to their production. Thompson seems to have the most secure spot among a trio that includes Budda Baker and Isaiah Simmons, as Baker could be looking for an exit and Simmons's super-hybrid role makes him a true fantasy wild card. Thompson has collected 231 tackles the last two seasons, and while his modest splash-play total (four interceptions and zero sacks) keeps him from elite status, his floor appears to be rock solid.

A fifth-round pick in the 2019 Supplemental Draft, Thompson showed promise through two campaigns, but his 2020 season was cut short (only five appearances) due to an ankle injury. Taking advantage of better health and one more game on the schedule last year, he led the Cardinals in tackles with 121 and also picked off three passes. It's an impressive feat in a defense with two other players that reached 100 tackles (Jordan Hicks and Isaiah Simmons) and next to star free safety Budda Baker. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Thompson has motivation to keep piling up stats in 2022.

Arizona picked Thompson in the fifth round of the 2019 Supplemental Draft, and the safety hasn't disappointed when on the field, with 76 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery through 20 career games. He was capped at five appearances last season due to an ankle injury, so the team likely hopes that improved health will allow him to replicate the 57-tackle performance from his rookie campaign. In the end, though, working next to free safety and consensus DB1 for fantasy purposes Budda Baker limits Thompson's overall potential.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 supplemental draft, Thompson's early indications are overwhelmingly positive. He only turned 21 years old in July 2019, making it especially impressive that he earned 618 defensive snaps in 15 games. Turning 22 this July, Thompson should be a three-down starter for Arizona even though he's the same age as many college starters. That he's so young leaves open the possibility that he'll add weight to his currently slight frame (5-10, 190), which could open new skill set possibilities in addition to what he's already shown. As more of a free safety sort of skill set, it's highly unlikely that Thompson will ever post tackle totals at a pace like teammate Budda Baker, but Thompson should make more of an impact in the interception category and eventually close in on DB1 utility after making 57 tackles last year, which projects to about 92 tackles per 1,000 snaps.