Assassin said:
Might push be coming to shove?
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Seahawks FS Earl Thomas officially announced that he is planning to hold out of the team's mandatory minicamp this week and further team activities until his current contract situation is resolved.
Thomas posted a message on Instagram stating he wants to "remain a Seahawk for the rest of my career." But Thomas also said he wants to "have certainty in regards to the upcoming years of my career." Looking for a contract extension, Thomas is scheduled to earn $8.5 million as a base salary in the final year of his contract this season, which ranks as the fifth-highest base salary for all free safeties for the 2018 season. Seattle can fine Thomas up to $84,435 for missing this week's three-day camp if they choose to do so. The 29-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors last year despite missing two games with a hamstring injury. Seattle had expressed interest in making Thomas available for trade this offseason, but only a potential deal to Dallas surfaced as more than a lukewarm rumor.
Source: Earl Thomas on Twitter
Jun 10 - 10:45 AM
Now what for Earl Thomas, Seahawks? Insiders debate outlook
play
6:47 PM CT
NFL Insiders
Earl Thomas wants a new contract from the Seattle Seahawks, announcing Sunday that he's skipping mandatory minicamp this week "until my contract situation is resolved."
The 29-year-old safety, who has made three first-team All-Pro teams and six Pro Bowls and has 25 career interceptions, is entering the final year of a four-year, $40 million deal. He was the subject of trade speculation earlier this offseason, and the Dallas Cowboys have flirted with trying to acquire him. Seahawks general manager John Schneider never shot down the possibility of a Thomas trade, saying it's his job to listen to all offers.
So, now what for Thomas and the Seahawks? We asked our panel of ESPN NFL Insiders to weigh in what Schneider & Co. should do next, which teams make sense for Thomas, and more:
Should the Seahawks trade Thomas or give him an extension?
Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter: I doubt that Thomas would take much less than the $13 million that Eric Berry makes a year as the league's highest-paid safety, so I would try to extend him with a similar average but structure it in a way that minimizes the financial commitment in later seasons. The Seahawks would be much better off keeping Thomas in the fold given all the key pieces their defense has lost, but they also have to protect themselves in the long term after getting burned on big-money extensions for Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett. Accomplishing both might be easier said than done.
Mina Kimes, senior writer: I would extend him at $13 million a year, which is how much Eric Berry is making. If the Seahawks really aren't in full rebuild mode (they've claimed it's more of a "little reset"), they need Thomas on the field to contend. He's an all-world talent who showed no signs of decline last season.
Field Yates, NFL Insider: I'd extend Thomas and not overthink the financial ballpark too significantly -- he's going to be among the highest-paid safeties in the league. Thomas is the game's most instinctive and versatile free safety. Seattle's window might have a different outlook in 2018 compared to previous seasons, but Thomas is a homegrown elite player.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: I'd extend his contract for $12-13 million a year. Thomas will want more than that, and it's looking like other teams aren't offering a ton in a trade, so it's not as simple as just saying extend him or trade him.
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: I would extend Thomas. He's still a blue-chip talent and a key to the Seahawks' core defensive system. Given his range, ball skills and high-level awareness as a deep-middle player, Thomas' salary should be on par with the highest-paid safeties in the league.
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: I'd extend him, personally. I understand the Seahawks are rebuilding their secondary, but that means they're not paying anyone else in the unit top-of-market money (unless Chancellor actually does play again). Thomas is still under 30 and probably could help make the rebuild work. Assuming Chancellor is off the books, why wouldn't they be able to give him a deal in that ($12 million/year) range?
Aaron Schatz, editor-in-chief of Football Outsiders: The best result would be to extend Thomas on a short-term deal. He's likely to still be one of the top free safeties in football for the next two or three years. But will he take $13 million, and will he take it for only three years? Throw more than that on the contract and you risk carrying dead weight in a couple years.
If the Seahawks trade Thomas, which team makes the most sense to target him?Henderson: Dallas Cowboys. They are the obvious choice given that they're the only team known to have had serious interest in Thomas. He has serious interest in playing for them, which could matter for this reason, among others: Any team that trades for Thomas would want to have an extension in place first, and that would be facilitated if Thomas was willing to take a little less money in exchange for the chance to play for his hometown team.Kimes: Dallas Cowboys. Dallas, which hired former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard as its defensive backs coach, is the obvious choice. I think Seattle would rather stomach a brief holdout than cough up Thomas for a mid-round pick, though.Yates: Los Angeles Chargers. Yes, they used a first-round pick on Derwin James, but top-tier defenses don't overthink talent. Former Seahawks coordinator Gus Bradley holds the same spot in Los Angeles. The New England Patriots are an example of a team that relied on three-safety looks on two thirds of their snaps last season. It's a valuable position, and there is no such thing as having too many talented defensive backs.
Sando: Dallas Cowboys. Because of their system and Thomas' apparent desire to play there.Bowen: Dallas Cowboys.They make the most sense because of the need at the position and Thomas' immediate fit in their scheme. This would be a seamless transition for Thomas, and his presence would upgrade the entire Dallas defense.Graziano: Dallas Cowboys. They have been the team most closely connected with Thomas, and they still have a need at the position. The Cowboys wouldn't part with their second-round pick in the draft without knowing for sure whether they could sign him long-term, and maybe now that Thomas is exerting some leverage on the Seahawks, their patience could end up paying off, and they can get him for less.Schatz: Dallas Cowboys. I wish I could be creative and suggest a team other than Dallas, but you end up with teams in the division (San Francisco, a trade that will never happen) or teams with cap space that have a clear hole at strong safety but not free safety (Indianapolis). The Houston Texans might make an interesting landing spot, though, especially with the recent announcement about Andre Hal's health.Is Thomas a Hall of Famer right now?
Henderson: If the question is whether Thomas should be a Hall of Famer if he retired now, my answer is yes. He has been arguably the most impactful player on a historically great defense. If the question is would he, I'd say probably. Looking at recent precedent, former Seahawks safety Kenny Easley -- who had a similar career to Thomas' -- had to wait 25 years before he was elected last year.
Kimes: Yes, especially if he plays at a high level for two more years. Darrelle Revis once said this to me about Thomas: "That guy has Hall of Fame written all over him."
Yates: Yes. Part of a player's candidacy extends beyond his numbers, though Thomas' statistical production is
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