Could a glut of free-agent safeties mean Earl Thomas re-signs with Seahawks?
When Earl Thomas rode off the field at Arizona in September, his broken left leg wrapped in an air cast and his middle finger extended toward the Seattle sideline, it seemed like the final image of the star safety in a Seahawks uniform.
Nothing that has happened since would suggest otherwise -- certainly nothing coach Pete Carroll has said.cheap nfl jerseys china nike
Every sign has pointed to Thomas finding a new home when free agency begins next week. The Seahawks have roughly $33 million in 2019 cap space. That would be enough to give Thomas a contract near the top of the market, if they so desired. But it wasn't for lack of cap space that they declined to do so with an extension last year. They had the money then too. It was about their unwillingness to reinvest in a player nearing 30 years of age after getting reminders from Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett of the danger in paying big money on third contracts.
Why would they be any more inclined to do that now?cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale
If there's a minuscule chance of reunion, it's because Thomas doesn't like any of the other offers in a safety market loaded with other big names such as Landon Collins, Eric Weddle, Tyrann Mathieu and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Thomas could conceivably find it appealing to take a one-year deal to beef up his value in a familiar setting.
It's much more likely, though, that he finds his megadeal.
As for replacing him, the Seahawks are much higher on Delano Hill and Tedric Thompson than many fans seem to be. Carroll singled out Hill after the season and again at the combine as a player with a bright future. And Bradley McDougald has the ability to play both strong safety and free safety.
The Seahawks also could draft a safety and/or sign one out of the deep free-agent pool.
