Potential Landing Spots for Earl Thomas
After just one year, the Baltimore Ravens and safety Earl Thomas are parting ways. On Sunday morning, the Ravens decided to release their starting safety due to an altercation during practice. This decision now presents an opportunity for multiple teams to add an elite defensive player for at least this season. Let’s look at some possible teams that Thomas may be able to call home in 2020.
Dallas Cowboys
Whether it’s Thomas or Jamal Adams, the Dallas Cowboys always seem to be in the conversation for landing a safety, and they are in the conversation yet again. Dallas has a young secondary with potential, but there is no clear-cut dominant force on the back end of their defense. With Thomas, they would get a ton of talent, but they would also get leadership and a man that can captain the secondary. Dallas has freed up cap space with the release of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and the restructuring of tackle Tyron Smith’s deal, so it is not like they do not have the money. It is going to come down to whether or not the two sides are on the same page, but I would not be surprised if Dallas made the move for at least one season.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have already made a splash in the secondary this offseason when they traded for former Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay, but that does not mean they cannot make another one. The Eagles have a very solid team, but lack star power from their secondary besides Slay, so signing Thomas is more of a need rather than a want. The Eagles are Super Bowl contenders, and signing Earl Thomas can put them over the top.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After an offseason featuring a signing of quarterback Tom Brady and a trade for tight end Rob Gronkowski, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have suddenly become contenders after being mediocre for so many years. Their biggest weakness is on their secondary, which makes Earl Thomas a perfect fit for Tampa Bay. Brady and crew will look to challenge the powerhouse New Orleans Saints for their division, so adding any type of help to slow down the Saints offense will be needed. While a perfect fit, I am not sure if Tampa Bay will make this move, making them a dark horse candidate for Thomas.
San Francisco 49ers
When you look at the San Francisco 49ers, you see a team with a solid offense and a dominant defense, particularly the line. If there is even the slightest weakness on their defense, it is their secondary, led by cornerback Richard Sherman. Outside of Sherman, the Niners are average in that area, but were able to get by last year. While their line, which features Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead, can carry the load, signing Earl Thomas would make this defense truly unstoppable. In a season where it is Super Bowl or bust for San Francisco, why not spend some money and add a pro bowl talent to your already dominant defense?
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