Jalen Thompson
He was a Supplemental Draft pick by the Cardinals in 2019 who surprised a number of people by just how well he played once he arrived. He probably didn’t surprise the Cardinals themselves though.
Thompson, a safety out of Washington State, came from a school not really known for their defensive talent. Still, Thompson made an almost immediate impact.
He played in 15 games, starting 9 of them. He had 56 tackles and an interception in his rookie season. He also recovered a fumble for 24-yards.
He played at least 94 percent or more of the team’s defensive snaps in 5 of the last 7 games. That is a sure sign the Cardinals feel comfortable with him.
Paired with an already rising star in safety Budda Baker, those two should give headaches to opposing offenses for a long time to come. Thompson, like Murphy, still has a lot to learn but he is well on his way to stardom in this league,