Cardinals keep Jalen Thompson, Budda Baker together for a few more years
The Arizona Cardinals just signed Jalen Thompson to a contract extension worth $40 million, keeping him around till 2025.
Jalen Thompson and the Arizona Cardinals are taking their relationship to a serious level. The safety who was originally signed with the Cards through the 2022 season, has now agreed to a contract extension through the 2025 season. And it’s not just any deal.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the deal is worth nearly $40 million, with $24.5 million in guaranteed money.
Entering only his fourth season in the NFL, Thompson is proving to be a Pro Bowl-quality player. Even though he was selected in the fifth round of the supplemental draft in 2019, the 24-year-old had a career-high 121 tackles in 2021, with three interceptions and seven pass breakups, emerging as one of the best young defenders on Arizona’s roster.
The Cardinals are keeping Thompson alongside fellow safety Budda Baker, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who’s also signed through 2024. That’s three seasons of a strongly- protected defense back end with a duo that we know has good chemistry on the field.
While Thompson is coming off of his best season in the league, playing in all 17 games and starting 12 of them, he is going after bigger things.
“I’m trying to go Pro Bowl this year,” Thompson said during training camp. “Last year I feel I could’ve made it. Unfortunately I didn’t. But (goals are) making the Pro Bowl, making my team better, being a leader, and getting to a Super Bowl.”