In the past six NFL drafts, six safeties from Alabama have been selected. The most recent, Deionte Thompson, joined the Arizona Cardinals on April 27.

Thompson followed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Landon Collins, Eddie Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison into the NFL. Three of those safeties have been Pro Bowlers. Two have been first-team All-Pro.

Thompson said the depth of talent at Alabama and the attention that head coach Nick Saban gives the secondary produce NFL-ready defensive backs.

“I’m ready to compete,” Thompson said during a press conference on Thursday after arriving for rookie minicamp, which started on Friday. “Playing at Alabama really helped me compete every day just because if you’re not on your job every day there, there’s a guy right behind you that can take your spot. It’s no different in the NFL. Your spot can get taken just like that, and I’m ready for that part of it.”

Thompson said Saban had helped him learn to play football with his head.

“I can tell you he helped me one way by ripping my ass every day at practice,” Thompson said, "making sure I was on top of stuff and making sure I was accountable on that field. If you weren’t accountable, you weren’t going to be out there. He’s a great coach, and he demands excellence. He wants you to do it until you can’t get it wrong.

"That was one of the things I had to learn. I had to learn to be a fundamental player, because coming from my high school I was kind of a freelance guy, just making plays all over the field, and now with the coach Saban coaching under my belt, I understand the position."

Like Clinton-Dix, Collins and Fitzpatrick, Thompson earned consensus All-American recognition at Alabama. But the other five Crimson Tide safeties in the NFL didn't have to wait as long as Thompson to hear their names in the draft. Clinton-Dix and Fitzpatrick were first-round draft choices, Collins a second-rounder, Harrison a third-round and Jackson a fourth-rounder.

Thompson joined the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

“There were 13 safeties picked before me,” Thompson said of this year’s draft. "That’s something I’ll never forget. It just added a little chip on my shoulder. …

"It really sucked. But at the end of the day, I was just happy to hear my name get called. That was a huge milestone for me and my family, something I worked so hard for all my life."

Since the 2018 season ended, Thompson has had wrist surgery to repair a ligament tear, but NFL Network reported his fifth-round draft status was caused by a “degenerative knee condition” that put off potential suitors.

On the night he was drafted, Thompson said he “heard the information like everybody else did” about his knee hurting his stock.

On Thursday, Thompson said: “My knee is fine. I’m ready to go right now. Just ready to get to work, and I’m putting all that stuff behind me.”

“That was out of my control,” Thompson said. “What I can control is what I can do now that I’m here. Just come in here and work hard every day, learn. God gave me two ears for a reason -- listen to all the veteran guys. Find a way to contribute.”

Thompson isn't expected to challenge for a starting position this season. The Cardinals have Budda Baker and D.J. Swearinger at their safety spots. But Thompson gives Arizona something it doesn't have at the position. Baker and Swearinger are both 5-foot-10. Baker has a roster weight of 205 pounds; Swearinger is 195. Thompson measured 6-1 and 195 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“We don’t have a post safety that really has the range and movement skill of this guy,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said.

Thompson said he's ready to play wherever Arizona needs him.

“I’m a guy that can play sideline to sideline, I can fill the alleys, make the tackles,” Thompson said. “I played free safety and strong safety at Alabama, so I have no problem with doing both at this level.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.