Seahawks Don’t Plan To Trade Earl Thomas
Although trade rumblings have circled around Earl Thomas for the better part of two months, the Seahawks don’t intend to deal the veteran defensive back, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Seattle wants to reach a long-term contract with Thomas, whom the club considers “firmly” in their 2018 plans, per Rapoport.
The Seahawks have undergone a significant offseason makeover on the defensive side of the ball, changing out much of their staff and replacing former coordinator Kris Richard with Ken Norton Jr. Seattle is engaged in trade talks regarding defensive lineman Michael Bennett, while other tenured players such as Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Cliff Avril could also be moving on. Thomas, though, doesn’t appear to be in danger of being traded any time soon.
Thomas, for his part, has been vocal about his desire to sign an extension, either with the Seahawks or another club (Thomas has been linked to the Cowboys, largely due to his own comments). Entering the final season of his contract, Thomas has threatened to hold out if he doesn’t land a new deal. Thomas, whose $10MM annual salary ranks sixth among safeties, will collect an $8.5MM base salary in 2017.
While Thomas doesn’t appear to going anywhere, the Seahawks prefers to wrap up its Bennett trade talks in the next week or so, per Rapoport. As Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reported Sunday, the Falcons are discussing a deal for Bennett, and Rapoport indicates there are other (unknown) clubs that potentially have interest in acquiring the three-time Pro Bowler.
Extra Points: Bears, Fuller, Seahawks
No surprise here, but Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune hears that the Bears are unlikely to use the franchise tag on Kyle Fuller. Multiple sources tell Biggs that they do not expect the franchise tag to be employed, though he is less certain about whether the transition tag could be in play. It also seems unlikely that Fuller would sign a multi-year contract with the Bears before free agency opens, but there is interest on both sides in moving forward together.
Here’s more from around the NFL on a very busy Monday:
- The Seahawks had open ears at the draft combine last week, sources tell Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Among those drawing interest include defensive tackle Michael Bennett and safety Earl Thomas, two players that have been the subject of trade speculation in recent weeks. Over the weekend, it was reported that the Falcons have discussed a Bennett deal with Seattle. Cornerback Richard Sherman, who has a $13.2MM cap charge in 2018, is also a trade candidate.
- The Panthers, Jaguars, and Dolphins are heavily interested in free agent quarterback market, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter) hears. The Panthers obviously have a starter in Cam Newton, but they are seeking a quality backup because Newton tends to take a lot of hits. The Jaguars and Dolphins have starters in Blake Bortles and Ryan Tannehill, respectively, but both clubs want veteran backups that can push them. The Dolphins are also exploring the idea of drafting a QB at No. 11 overall.
- Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson has been the subject of tremendous debate in football circles, particularly due to questions about his ability to play QB at the next level. He may have another problem. Jackson did not do well in interviews and white-board work at the combine, Volin hears (Twitter link) and his decision to go without an agent may be the culprit.
- The Bills‘ one-year contract with cornerback Vontae Davis includes an unusual wrinkle, as noted by Volin (on Twitter). Davis is slated to receive a roster bonus of nearly $47K for each game he spends on the 46-man active roster. Meanwhile, he’ll receive a lesser bonus of almost $16K per game that he spends on the 53-man roster. It’s unique for a contract to have separate bonuses for appearing on the 53 and the 46 each week, but it’s a creative structure for Buffalo given Davis’ injury history. One has to wonder if other teams could follow a similar blueprint this offseason when signing veterans with health concerns.
Saints Expected To Target Jimmy Graham
Could a reunion be on the horizon for the Saints and tight end Jimmy Graham? The Saints are expected to be among the teams with interest in Graham when free agency opens on March 14, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
In line with what we’ve heard previously, Pelissero says that Graham is not expected to re-sign with the Seahawks this offseason. There should be plenty of opportunities out there for Graham, however, as he profiles as one of the top tight ends in this year’s class. Other big names include Eagles free agent Trey Burton (who should draw the most lucrative deal of any free agent TE) and Jets free agent Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
Over the last four years, Graham has been the league’s highest-paid tight end with average annual salary value of $10MM. He’ll make less on his next contract, but he figures to do well on a multi-year deal.
The Saints have tight ends Coby Fleener, Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, Garrett Griffin, Clay Harbor, and Alex Ellis on the roster, but finding a difference maker at tight end is one of the team’s top priorities. Going for a proven free agent such as Graham would make sense, but the Saints also met with some of the draft’s top tight end prospects at the combine last week and they could fill the void there.
“I think there are some players there,” GM Mickey Loomis said of this year’s tight end crop in the draft (via Herbie Teope of the Times Picayune). “I think there’s a good group of players, and so how they fit us, I think that remains to be determined yet. I think, in general, this is going to be a decent draft class.”
Graham, 32 in November, was among the league’s best tight ends while with New Orleans. From 2011-2014, Graham averaged 89 catches for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns per season. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in his two most recent seasons with the Saints, but his production has not been quite the same.
Seahawks, Falcons Talking Bennett Trade
The Seahawks discussing sending Michael Bennett to work with his former defensive coordinator. The Falcons are talking to the Seahawks about a deal for the veteran defensive end, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Multiple teams are talking to the Seahawks about a deal for Bennett, but the Falcons are the only confirmed suitor. They would make sense considering Dan Quinn and Bennett’s relationship and the team utilizing a 4-3 scheme very similar to the Seahawks’.
Despite having three years left on his latest Seahawks deal, Bennett’s been on the trade block during the Combine. McClure identified the 10th-year defensive end as being a Falcons fit because of the aforementioned reasons but also due to Atlanta’s present need for interior pass rush. Bennett started all 16 Seahawks games last season and was a key cog on both of Seattle’s Super Bowl teams.
Bennett registered 8.5 sacks in 2017 and booked his third straight Pro Bowl trip. Long a well-regarded player by the advanced-metrics community, Bennett didn’t receive quite as high of a grade from Pro Football Focus last season (No. 36 edge defender) but was still productive. He often provides an inside pass rush on passing downs, and could have some starter seasons left if shipped to Atlanta. No Falcon under contract registered more than six sacks last season.
Three seasons and more than $26MM remain on the 32-year-old defensive end’s contract. John Schneider said the Seahawks are taking numerous calls this offseason about deals for their veteran components, with Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman candidates to be moved as well. Bennett will count $7.36MM toward a team’s cap this season, and considering multiple teams are talking with the Seahawks, prying him away from Seattle may well take a trade.
Seahawks Eyeing First-Round Pick For Earl Thomas?
Earl Thomas is one of the most accomplished safeties of his era but is entering his ninth season and has voiced concerns about an uncertain future in Seattle. And the Seahawks are open to negotiations.
While Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wrote the team could possibly land multiple Day 2 picks for the soon-to-be 29-year-old safety, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports the Seahawks would try to land a first-round pick plus an additional mid-round selection in Thomas talks.
Seattle trading arguably its best player and a future Hall of Fame candidate would signal a rebuild, at least to some degree, would be commencing. The team is shopping Michael Bennett as well, and the futures of Super Bowl cornerstones Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril are in doubt. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are essentially the only members of that defensive nucleus whose names have not been associated with uncertainty thus far this offseason.
Thomas is seeking a new contract, one that won’t be cheap. Eric Berry‘s $13MM-AAV deal could be in sight for the league’s former highest-paid safety. The former Texas Longhorn is on the Seahawks’ books at $10.4MM this season.
No active safety has more than Thomas’ three first-team All-Pro distinctions, and with his age-30 season not set to commence until 2019, he stands to have plenty more good years left. He backed off the possibly not-so-serious retirement talk that occurred while he was out after breaking his leg in 2016 and started 14 games last season.
Condotta lists the Texans, Raiders and Steelers as some possible suitors. Oakland GM Reggie McKenzie is a close friend of John Schneider, and the Raiders need safety help alongside Karl Joseph after Reggie Nelson‘s contract expired. They don’t have a ton of salary cap space and may be eyeing top-market corner Trumaine Johnson with much of it. The Steelers are in dire need of coverage help and may be ready to jettison their most experienced safety, Mike Mitchell, to create cap space. But the Le’Veon Bell situation and a lack of cap space clouds Pittsburgh’s spending outlook. The Texans have a need at safety, more cap space than both teams, and they made a deal with the Seahawks in October.
Thomas, though, connected himself to the Cowboys after the Seahawks’ December in win Dallas. He’d surely welcome a trip to his home state, but the Cowboys don’t have a friendly cap situation either. They are set to use their franchise tag on Demarcus Lawrence, which would be worth $16.2MM of their space. OverTheCap has Dallas as holding $17.4MM in space going into the weekend.
Hawks Notes: Thomas, Bennett, Richardson
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011, the Seahawks have some decisions to make regarding key members of their veteran core. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports anticipates two members of the Earl Thomas/Richard Sherman/Michael Bennett trio being traded. John Schneider said the team will be “open to listening to anything” this offseason. Here’s the latest on trades and other matters from Seattle:
- The Seahawks are shopping Bennett at the Combine, and La Canfora estimates the team will take a draft choice for Bennett and look to add a free agent to replace him up front. Interestingly, JLC places the other high-profile former Jets defensive end, Muhammad Wilkerson, as a Seahawks candidate. Bennett has three years and more than $26MM remaining on his contract, and considering a market light on edge talent, he should be able to fetch the Seahawks a Day 3 pick despite his age (32) and salary.
- However, Seattle will demand value for Thomas. La Canfora expects the soon-to-be 29-year-old safety to be worth multiple Day 2 picks and anticipates the Seahawks moving him. Thomas has made multiple comments about a holdout this winter. He and Eric Berry are the only active safeties to have three first-team All-Pro honors on their resumes, and Thomas figures to have several years of productivity left. He was the last member of the Legion of Boom standing, returning from a broken leg to play in 14 games, after Sherman and Kam Chancellor went down with severe injuries. One season and $10.4MM remains on Thomas’ second Seahawks contract. It’s logical Thomas, whose 2014 Seahawks extension represented the salary standard at safety for many months, will expect a third deal on the Berry tier. The Chiefs All-Pro earns a safety-high $13MM per year.
- Sherman’s injury makes him the most logical choice to stay in Seattle and mentor the next wave of DBs, La Canfora writes. One year and $13.2MM remains on the 29-year-old cornerback’s contract.
- A recent report indicated the Seahawks weren’t likely to use their franchise tag on Sheldon Richardson by Tuesday’s deadline, and Schneider confirmed as such. “Not at this point. We have time, but we have more people that we have to talk to this weekend,” Schneider said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. “We’re not done with all our meetings.” Tagging the 27-year-old interior defender would cost Seattle $14.2MM, and that wouldn’t seem to fit in an offseason in which the team is trying to shed veteran expenses.
- Several factors point to the Falcons inquiring on Bennett, with Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com noting that in addition to the defender’s relationship with Dan Quinn he shares an agent with Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff. Falcons DC Marquand Manuel was also a Seahawks assistant during part of Bennett’s Seattle tenure. Although McClure said the Falcons’ ideal scenario would be to add Bennett as a free agent, he expects Dimitroff to inquire about what it will cost to make a deal with the Seahawks. He would be a threat to line up inside on passing downs to help bolster the Falcons’ interior pass rush. “I think he’s a mismatch on the guards. I think he has a couple good years left,” an NFC coach told McClure. “I think he still has some juice. And he has that relationship with [Quinn].”
Richard Sherman Unable To Pass Physical
The Seahawks dangled cornerback Richard Sherman in trade talks at this time a year ago, but given that he’s currently unable to pass a physical after undergoing another procedure on his torn Achilles, Sherman won’t be dealt any time soon, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Injured players can’t be traded, and Sherman likely won’t be healthy until training camp. In 2017, Seattle ultimately dropped its asking price for Sherman to a first-round and a mid-round selection, but no deal was ever made. While Sherman may not hit the trade market any time soon, the Seahawks are reportedly shopping veteran defensive lineman Michael Bennett.
Seahawks Could Move Deshawn Shead To Safety
- With Kam Chancellor‘s status for the 2018 season in doubt, the Seahawks have discussed moving cornerback DeShawn Shead to safety, reports Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. Shead is a free agent, so Seattle would have to re-sign him if it wants him to play safety, but the club clearly has interest in retaining him. A 15-game starter as recently as 2015, Shead tore his ACL in January 2016 and took awhile to recover. Two surgeries later, Shead is hitting the free agent market after appearing in only two contests a season ago. Fellow reserve defensive back Bradley McDougald is also a pending free agent, so the Seahawks will need to work to retain their secondary depth this offseason.
Seahawks Shopping DL Michael Bennett
The Seahawks are shopping veteran defensive lineman Michael Bennett, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com.
Bennett, 32, is still one of the better — and more versatile — lineman in the NFL, as he ranked inside the top 20 in quarterback pressures a season ago. Capable of lining up along the interior or on the edge, Bennett appeared in 16 games for Seattle in 2017, managing eight sacks and grading as the No. 38 interior defender among 108 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
But the Seahawks are undergoing something of a makeover on the defensive side of the ball: not only does the club have a new coordinator in Ken Norton Jr., but Seattle could move on from veterans such as Cliff Avril, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, and Kam Chancellor. If the Seahawks are aiming to get younger on defense, Bennett would make sense as another candidate to to be shipped out.
Bennett is due a $3MM roster bonus on March 18 (the fourth day of the 2018 league year), so Seattle would likely want to deal Bennett before that date in order to avoid that expenditure. The three-time Pro Bowler is signed through 2020 at affordable rates, and wouldn’t cost an acquiring club more than $8.5MM in any of the next three seasons.
A number of clubs around the league are currently running Seahawks-esque schemes, and could speculatively be in play for Bennett. The Falcons, hypothetically, could be one team with interest, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets, while the 49ers, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Chargers all employ former Seattle defensive coaches.
Richard Sherman Interested In Patriots?
Cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Aqib Talib would be receptive to the idea of joining the Patriots, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Both players are under contract, but it’s possible that the Seahawks could trade Sherman and Talib is a trade/release candidate for the Broncos due to his $11MM cap number in 2018.