NFL: Seahawks: Thomas misses Week 1 – Trade?

The Seattle Seahawks still have to do without Earl Thomas, who is in the holdout – the safety will probably also miss the start of the season. A trade seems increasingly conceivable.

NFL network insider Ian Rapoport reports that Thomas is unlikely to return for Seattle’s opening game against the Denver Broncos. In general, he will no longer be at the team, says Rapoport, “until something changes”.

Thomas stayed away from the team for the whole off-season and made his position publicly clear: “Prolong with me – but if you don’t want me, then trade me. I understand it’s a business.”

Head coach Pete Carroll last complained: “He should be here, but it’s not. We expect him back. He’s under contract here.”

The 29-year-old would enter his final year of contract in 2018 and had regularly stressed that he wants long-term security before being on the pitch in the coming season. Thomas had also never made a secret of the fact that one day he would like to play for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas was the subject of most trade rumours, now Rapoport reports that the cowboys are ready to make a third round pick for Thomas. Seattle, however, demand a second-round pick plus a late-rounder or something similar.

According to NFL network colleague Tom Pelissero, other teams will also have a concrete interest in Thomas. So far, however, no franchise has signalled a willingness to pay the price requested by Seattle.