Earl Thomas Trade Rumors: Cowboys Look to Restart Discussions with Seahawks

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The Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks had trade talks regarding star safety Earl Thomas, though no deal was agreed upon. With the two teams facing off Sunday, it’s possible those talks could resume.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com: “While the two sides have not spoken since before Thomas reported to the Seahawks to begin the season, there are several people inside the Cowboys organization who hope Sunday’s game will serve as the impetus to begin conversations again. The Dallas contingent arrived in Seattle with open ears about that possibility.”

While it may seem unusual for teams to strike a deal right after facing one another, Rapoport noted that “Last year, the Seahawks traded for left tackle Duane Brown right after playing his old team, the Houston Texans.”

Thomas is also a longtime Cowboys fan who told the team’s head coach, Jason Garrett, “If y’all have the chance, come get me,” after a December game last year, per Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. He later clarified those remarks, however:

“I’ve always been a Cowboys fan growing up. The biggest thing when I said, ‘Come get me,’ I didn’t literally mean, ‘Come get me now.’ I’m still in the prime of my career, I still want to be here. But when Seattle kicks me to the curb, please, the Cowboys, come get me. You know? This is the place where I want to be when they kick me to the curb. So that’s what I meant by. People take me too serious. That’s just who I am.”

Thomas, 29, held out until the first week of September amid a contract standoff. After not getting the long-term extension he desired, he noted on Instagram upon his return that “I’ve never let my teammates, city or fans down as long as I’ve lived and don’t plan on starting this weekend. With that being said, the disrespect has been well-noted and will not be forgotten.”

According to Rapoport, the Cowboys offered Seattle a second-round pick for Thomas during the offseason, and the Seahawks declined. What’s less clear is if the Cowboys would be willing to sweeten the pot, or if the Seahawks have any interest in moving on from him.

Thomas remains one of the top safeties in the game, and he’s a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time First Team All-Pro. He was the leader of the famous Legion of Boom secondary that also included cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Kam Chancellor, though the former is now in San Francisco and the latter is retired.

Thomas is the last member of that dominant group that helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl title for the 2013 season.