Seahawks' K. J. Wright Wants New Deal
Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright is entering the final year of his contract and is quietly hoping for an extension.
“I want to be here, of course,’’ Wright said (via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times). “The Seahawks know that. Whatever they want to do, they’ll do. It’s my job to be the best that I could be, to make sure that K.J. and this defense is good. They know what it is and let’s get something done.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/18
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves.
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Terrence Magee
- Waived: RB Demario Richard
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers from Raiders: LB Brady Sheldon
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro
- Waived: LB Dadi Nicolas
Seahawks Hire Ryan Grigson
Former Colts GM Ryan Grigson is back in the NFL. The Seahawks have hired him to join their front office, according to an announcement from his agent. 
[RELATED: Cowboys “Holding Out Hope” Of Acquiring Earl Thomas?]
Grigson, 46, was the Colts’ GM for five years until he was fired after the 2016 season. Outside of landing Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener, and Dwayne Allen his first draft, the rest of Grigson’s draft record was rather spotty. Meanwhile, his trade of a first-round pick for Browns draft bust Trent Richardson in 2013 probably stands as his most infamous move.
Grigson hooked on with the Browns in 2017, but he was let go by John Dorsey‘s regime. It’s not immediately clear what he’ll be doing in Seattle under GM John Schneider, but it’s likely to be scouting-focused. Officially, Grigson will serve as a consultant, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (Twitter link) hears.
Cowboys “Holding Out Hope” Of Acquiring Earl Thomas?
While there has been no recent movement in talks regarding a trade that would send Seahawks safety Earl Thomas to the Cowboys, Dallas has “quietly held out hope” that it may acquire the All-Pro defensive back, according to Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
The Cowboys have made no secret in their interest in Thomas, and the club reportedly had talks with the Seahawks near the draft. However, Dallas balked at sending a second-round pick (which would have been the 50th overall selection) to Seattle in exchange for Thomas. Since that time, Seahawks general manager John Schneider acknowledged that while his team did have discussions involving Thomas, no deal was “remotely close to happening.”
However, Thomas has since continued his holdout: he did not report to mandatory minicamp earlier this week, and indicated he’ll continue to stay away from the Seahawks until his contract is “resolved.” Thomas’ absence isn’t major news in and of itself, but Seattle reportedly hadn’t had any conversations about Thomas’ deal — which expires after the 2018 season — as of late May. As such, there may not be a clear resolution in sight.
Thomas is scheduled to earn a base salary of $8.5MM in 2018, so the Cowboys — who have roughly $11.5MM in cap space — would be able to fit him on their books. Given that Thomas’ is clearly unhappy with his current contract, Dallas would likely need to extend the 29-year-old. Seattle, meanwhile, would incur a dead money charge of $1.9MM as a result of a Thomas trade.
Arguably the most consistent safety in the NFL since 2010, Thomas graded as the league’s No. 9 safety in 2018, per Pro Football Focus. In Dallas, Thomas would not only give the Cowboys over either Jeff Heath or Xavier Woods, but reunite with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard, who is now Dallas’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 6/11/18
Another round of minor moves from today:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: S Quincy Mauger
Baltimore Ravens
- Cut: DB Robert Nelson
- Signed: DB Jackson Porter
Denver Broncos
- Waived/injured: LB Deiontrez Mount
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Joshua Perry
- Waived: OT Nick Callender
Pete Carroll Optimistic About Seahawks Restart
- In a recent column, Albert Breer of SI.com writes that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is taking a positive view on the departure of a slew of veteran players from his roster saying Carroll views it as “a chance, at age 66, to sell the bedrock of his program—competition—all over again. It got a little hard, as the above core came to prominence, to keep selling the idea that every spot was up for grabs. It’s not so difficult to sell anymore.”
Could Martin Extension Allow Cowboys To Trade For Earl Thomas?
- The Cowboys are nearing an extension with guard Zack Martin, and that could have major consequences for the rest of the roster. Getting a Martin deal done would give the Cowboys some clarity on whether they have enough cap room to work out a trade (and subsequent extension) for Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram tweets. Thomas plans to hold out from the Seahawks’ minicamp, but there has been no recent movement on trade talks between Seattle and Dallas. In theory, a new deal for Martin could change that.
No Movement On Earl Thomas To Cowboys
Safety Earl Thomas announced that he will not be attending the Seahawks’ mandatory minicamp as he pressures the team for a new contract. Right now, it doesn’t sound like that situation will result in a trade to the Cowboys. There hasn’t been much discussion on a trade to send Thomas to Dallas since the draft, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. 
There were rumblings this offseason that the Seahawks could move Thomas, but coach Pete Carroll shot that down in April when he indicated the team was planning on keeping Thomas. GM John Schneider admitted that a trade was considered at one point, but also said that “nothing was remotely close to happening” in the spring.
Meanwhile, in May, it was said that there was no movement on a new deal for Thomas. At this point, something has to give. Thomas will either have to play out his final year at a salary of $8.5MM, or the Seahawks will have to give him an extension to put him at or near the top of his position group. Making him the highest-paid safety in the league would mean leapfrogging Eric Berry‘s mammoth six-year, $78MM deal.
When Thomas signed his four-year, $40MM extension with the Seahawks in 2014, he was the highest-paid safety in the NFL. Since then, he has been topped by five others: Berry, teammate Kam Chancellor, Reshad Jones (Dolphins), Lamarcus Joyner (Rams), and Harrison Smith (Vikings).
Reactions To Earl Thomas Holdout
- Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times believes Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas is seeking a deal that would exceed Eric Berry‘s $13MM average annual salary. At the very last, the writer could see the veteran striving for the $12MM average annual salary that teammate Kam Chancellor earned from his extension. Earlier today, we learned that the safety was going to continue his holdout and would miss mandatory minicamp.
[SOURCE LINK]
RB C.J. Prosise Fighting For Roster Spot
One look at the Seahawks depth chart would lead anyone to infer that running back C.J. Prosise is on the roster bubble. However, it makes it a whole lot easier when the head coach comes out and says it.
Talking to reports this week, Pete Carroll said the former Seattle draft pick is fighting for a spot on the team.
“C.J. has really jumped out, too,” Carroll said (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). “He’s looked good now. He knows he’s battling (for a roster spot).’’
Prosise, a third-round pick back in 2016, is battling a number of running backs for a backup gig. First-rounder Rashaad Penny is expected to earn the starting gig, but any of Prosise, Chris Carson, J.D. McKissic, and Mike Davis could make the team. For what it’s worth, Roster Resource currently lists Prosise fourth on the depth chart.
There was once hope that the 24-year-old would be Seattle’s long-term replacement for Marshawn Lynch. Unfortunately, the young running back has battled injuries during his brief career. Both his 2016 and 2017 seasons ending prematurely due to a fractured scapula and an ankle injury, respectively. In 11 career games (two starts), Prosise has compiled 195 rushing yards (4.8-yards per carry) and one score. He’s added another 23 receptions for 295 yards.