It appears the Cowboys’ refusal to send a second-round pick to the Seahawks for Earl Thomas did not squash their interest in acquiring the three-time All-Pro safety. The Cowboys remain in the Thomas market, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, but it’s unclear how badly the franchise wants to execute a deal.
Moore reports the Cowboys are still interested in trading for Thomas. However, despite a rather interesting safety setup that features Jeff Heath and 2017 sixth-rounder Xavier Woods as the penciled-in starters, they aren’t desperate for his services. Moore notes they will be willing to wait out the Seahawks’ situation with Thomas.
John Schneider does not expect his superstar safety to hold out, despite repeated threats at doing so, and the Seattle GM reiterated that’s the sense he’s getting.
“My sense is that he wants to be here,” Schenider said Thursday, via ESPN Seattle’s Jessamyn McIntyre (Twitter link). “I haven’t got that sense from his agents at all.”
The Cowboys are searching for safety help, and while it’s a good year to do that — with Eric Reid, Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccaro still oddly unattached nearly two months into the 2018 league year — Thomas brings a much higher pedigree. The soon-to-be 29-year-old defender remains one of the top players at his position, and the Texas native surely wouldn’t be upset if the Cowboys acquired him.
Despite Dallas’ need at safety, the team didn’t inquire about trading up for Derwin James once he fell in Round 1, Moore reports, and selected an offensive lineman in Round 2 and a wideout in Round 3. Executive VP Stephen Jones said the team considered drafting a safety, and Jerry Jones said the team is interested in finding veteran help. Jerry Jones added post-draft that the Cowboys have cornerbacks who can play safety, perhaps indicating Byron Jones‘ shift to cornerback may not be permanent.
Moore writes that Thomas can help facilitate this by holding out and/or refusing to sign a Seahawks extension. One year remains on his deal. But for now, Seattle brass continues to publicly state they expect Thomas to remain their secondary’s centerpiece this season.
The Cowboys had 4 major needs going into this offseason, (FA/Draft) 5 needs if you count a new HC who isn’t a puppet…..
1. OL was addressed with Fleming, Martin FA signings
2. TE, The team was well aware going into the draft that Witten was leaning towards joining MNF.
3. DT, Not too much talent on the roster at this position and their most talented player (Irving) is an impending FA and impending felon.
4. A veteran safety to nurture this young, talented secondary. Something this team has been chasing since the retirement of Darren Woodson.
The front office passed on Maurice Hurst, a 1st round talent DT that slipped in the draft due to a medical issue, got punked by the Eagles who traded up 1 pick in front of us to draft one of the top TE in the draft (who’s name happens to be Dallas) and it appears they weren’t willing to part with a 2nd round pick up a future HOF safety in Earl Thomas, yet this story won’t die. Please stop teasing me. Will my misery ever end? UNCLE!
Watch All or Nothing and see if your opinion on Garrett doesn’t change a bit…
I’m gonna go ahead and say that you don’t know anything. Ever heard of Maliek Collins who played the entirety of last year injured? Collins, Irving, Tank, Crawford make for a top 10 front 4. Then you add Lee, hopefully an improved Jaylon and Vander Esch. Also a top 10 front 7
I’m gonna go ahead and say that if you think Malik Collins, Tyson Crawford, David Irving, a washout from the Oakland Raiders and a rookie from Kansas make for a “top 10” front four, your nothing but a Cowboys homer and don’t watch too much NFL.Outside of Lawrence and Irving there isn’t much there (Collins has upside but has been limited by injuries) and Lawrence was considered a wasted pick and a bust before last season. Take a look at Jacksonville’s front 4, The Chargers, Rams, Eagles, and teams like Seattle and Houston before injuries hit. Look at what Tampa Bay has done this offseason. Those are top defensive lines. I agree they upgraded at LB, but isn’t that what every 1st round pick is supposed to do? Have you ever been watching the draft and heard “That Bradley Chubb pick really didn’t improve Denver’s D-line at all”? I’m saying they needed to add a PASS CATCHING TE, DT help, and a veteran safety. There are already passblocking TE on the roster! What of those 3 things has been addressed this offseason? Prescott checks it down a lot, he struggles making throws downfield, look at Wittens numbers and tell me hes just a pass blocker. This Thomas story won’t die, there is still something there, and BTW they won’t trade for him without having the framework of a new deal in place genius, he wouldnt be a 1 year rental, and another thing if you all think “we can wait until he hits FA….” his price on the open market will soar! We need him this year or overpay next, or put this story to rest because as a lifelong Dallas fan I can’t handle these Thomas teases.
Wonder what the compensation would be… future draft pick(s)?
I think a 3rd rounder
Neil, it will not be a 3rd rounder. They can keep him for a year and let him walk next off season and get a 3rd rounder anyway. Why would Seattle take a 3rd rounder from Dallas and not get him for a final season?
Exactly, gotta think itd have to be a 2. A 3 and a 4 would just seem too cheap
He’s way to valuable to be just a 3rd, I can see them providing a future 2nd rounder, but they would have to combined it with a 3rd making it a 2nd & 3rd package and exchanging 4th round depending on how each team finish’s the next season based on we’re each team round position would be next upcoming draft. That’s how I would see the trade being executed based off Draft Position upcoming draft. So you won’t see anything come to completed trade until end of next season. Next factor would be securing him on future contract being a sign and trade which Dallas would have to have permission from Seattle to work out a contract w his agent which I would only see a 3 year contract being max cause he would be close to 30 I don’t see Dallas wanting to commit to him past age of 33 cause of the possibility of performance dropping off past that age of 33 for his position free safety, and injury risk. That why Dallas is hesitant on giving so much for someone so close to 30. I think Seattle is asking to much based off his age, and injury risk. I think their asking price will lower based off either his performance, if he holds out, or if he gets injured one of those factors.
Compensation? Who cares! You are trading 1 or 2 PROSPECTS (draft picks) for a proven leader. How many guys “hit” in the draft? How many draft picks become HOF’ers? Guys like Thomas, Ed Reed don’t grow on trees, they come along once every 5-10 years. Pull the trigger Jerrah!
Extra cheese please!
Washed up Safety…. Not worth anything above a 6th.
You’re in the wrong place. Do you have eyes? Do you even follow the NFL?
Seattleite don’t feed the troll. It’s hungry and sitting there with it’s mouth open screaming “feed me! feed me!” and you just threw it a table scrap.
the Seahawks could use another tackle or guard on their offensive line. Why not trade one of your offensive lineman in a third round draft pick for Earl Thomas?
First off this ideal that the Cowboys were linked by the Eagles move up is completely absurd.. they were drafting a OL or WR with that second round pick .. they didn’t want Dallas Goedart because he can’t block.. there scheme calls for a Blocking TE which they got in the fourth round in Shultz from Stanford rated the best blocking TE In The Draft.. they run the football so a blocking TE is way more important for them..as for the Earl Thomas thing they aren’t giving a 2nd round pick on a player that could walk next year.. it will have to be a 3 rd and some other compensation for a trade to happen.. or they will wait until he’s a free agent next year and they have 72 million Available at this point on the cap.. they aren’t as stupid as some of you think.. they address they line with two free agent pickups and Williams I. The draft , they addressed LB with Vanderesch and a free agent and they have brought in several Wr since letting Dez go.. they addressed TE with a pick and they traded for a DT from Oakland for depth there .. just cause you don’t think it’s a splashy look doesn’t mean they didn’t address it or that it isn’t good .. stop hating
Pro – Elite Safety, sure as up the secondary immediately.
Con – 29 and 30 age seasons at top dollar for Safety.
Con – Compensation likely a 2nd or 3rd and 4th.
Con – Unlikely to elevate the Cowboys into the playoffs during the 2 years they have him.