Unfortunately, the 2018 NFL Draft came and went without the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks being able to work out a trade involving All-Pro safety Earl Thomas. The Cowboys interest in Thomas very was real, but the asking price was simply too high for them.
Earl Thomas still remains a member of the Seattle Seahawks right now, but that doesn’t mean the Cowboys pursuit of him is over. In fact, it could just be heating up.
The Dallas Cowboys showed resiliency and patience throughout the draft and let things come to them instead of trying to make things happen. I think this is the same kind of approach we could see from them now and why there is still a real possibility Earl Thomas is wearing a star on his helmet 2018.
It may be a pipe dream, but I don’t think the door is shut on this happening just yet. One could even argue that the leverage in this ordeal has now shifted in the Dallas Cowboys favor.
No other team in the NFL was willing to pay Seattle’s asking price in the draft to acquire Earl Thomas. That should lower expectations as to what they had hoped to get in return for #29. They were almost able to bamboozle the Cowboys out of a second-rounder, but Dallas stood firm.
Of course, Seattle could choose not to budge at all on their asking price, especially considering they know that Dallas is still looking to possibly upgrade the safety position.
Here’s the kicker though. Earl Thomas could force matters by the way he approaches offseason workouts. He could force the Seahawks hand if he chooses to not show up because of the long-term security he seeking.
If Thomas and the Seahawks can’t come to terms on a contract extension, Seattle runs the risk of losing him after the 2018 season without receiving any compensation. They would probably prefer to avoid such a thing from happening.
This is where the Dallas Cowboys come in. They can offer Seattle a third or fourth-round 2019 draft pick that escalates depending on playing time and the amount of defensive snaps he plays in 2018. This could be the win-win situation both teams are looking for.
I have no doubt my mind that the Dallas Cowboys would go for this deal in a heartbeat. Earl Thomas would immediately upgrade their secondary and allow Xavier Woods a little more time to develop. Unfortunately, it takes two to tango.
This is a dance that will continue to go on until the trade deadline ends. Hopefully, the Dallas Cowboys are the one leading this tango.
Keep in mind, the Seahawks are probably going to get a 3rd round comp pick, or at the very least a 4th. I would offer them a player such Beasely it T-Will and a 3rd and see if that would work.
If we are giving them players, they can have a 4th or 5th next year. ET wants big money after 2018 when he will be 30, so it might be a “rent a player” deal. Kenny Vacarro and Tre Boston still on the market, neither ET good but is ET still ET good?
Your reasoning sounds very logical. Indeed Seattle wants some compensation from moving on ET and safety it´s the only position Dallas still needs to address with a proven player, specially that the cap problems are solved, I do not question Woods development, but without a clear solution at 1T, making this deal happen will give Dallas an A+ draft.
I don’t known if I’d give up both players and a third if they want to trade him they will call
Too much downside: Tie up cap $, give up players or picks, put barriers up for Woods.
If Thomas were a proven SS not FS, different equation. But he is too small for SS, and so is Woods. I’d rather keep the cap space free even if for next offseason, and open up the job for Woods to win in preseason. If he’s not rising to the chance to start, then it would be more justified to go spend on Thomas to help 2018. It looks like the deal will still be available in the fall.