Redskins shouldn’t have interest in Earl Thomas if he becomes available

There has been some buzz about Earl Thomas potentially being available as he is mired in a contract dispute with the Seahawks. If there’s any truth to that, the Washington Redskins shouldn’t be interested.

Earl Thomas is a very good football player. At one time, Thomas was considered to be arguably the top free safety in football. He has excellent coverage skills and great closing speeds as well. He was a big part of the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom,” and currently is the only member of that group still standing (unless Kam Chancellor returns, which seems unlikely).

However, despite Thomas’ status as a solid player, the Seahawks have not been able to work out a long-term contract extension with him. As it stands, Thomas is entering the final year of his deal, and it seems that he and the Seahawks might not agree on a deal. It was rumored at one point this offseason that Thomas might be traded to the Dallas Cowboys, but nothing ever came of that.

Still, the situation has not been resolved and as a result, Thomas is skipping the team’s mandatory minicamp. He released this statement on Twitter regarding the matter.

This is a logical move on Thomas’ part, as there’s no use in risking an unnecessary injury with no insurance for another deal after this season. At the same time, the Seahawks may get fed up with him and try to trade him. And in the event that they decide to do that, the Washington Redskins shouldn’t be interested in him.

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The reasons for this are simple. They are D.J. Swearinger and Montae Nicholson. Both players proved to be solid starting options during the 2017 season. And while Nicholson did struggle to stay healthy, he deserves a shot at starting next to Swearinger again.

Thomas would certainly be a temporary upgrade as a starter. He has excellent range and is a proven playmaker. Putting him in the secondary with Josh Norman and Swearinger could create a unit similar to the Legion of Boom.

That said, Thomas is 29 and only under contract for one season. Giving up a significant resource for him would be risky, as he could walk in free agency, or the team could sign him to a lucrative extension and he could decline. Plus, Nicholson is six years younger than him and has a lot of upside. So, why not just give the young guy a chance?

Next: Redskins Depth Chart - Safeties

Thomas may not even end up leaving the Seahawks this offseason. As he mentioned, he does want to stay in Seattle. But if he does become available, the Redskins should avoid him. It’s not worth it for them to invest in him, as they already have some quality options available on their squad, and there are some quality safeties left on the free agent market too.