Chiefs Were “Inching Closer” Toward Trade For Earl Thomas Before Injury

Update:

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media confirms that the Seahawks were moving towards trading S Earl Thomas and it was to the point that it likely would have happened, but they needed more time.

Rapoport says that the Seahawks just recently lowered their asking price for Thomas from two second-round picks to one second-rounder and the Chiefs were actually in the process of freeing up some cap space to facilitate the trade.

Interestingly enough, Rapoport says it doesn’t sound like the Chiefs were planning to sign Thomas to an extension.

Terez A. Paylor reports that the Chiefs were particularly annoyed with the season-ending injury suffered by Seahawks S Earl Thomas on Sunday.

According to Paylor, the Chiefs and Seahawks were “inching closer toward a deal and there was internal optimism something would be struck before the deadline.”

On Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Seahawks the Chiefs had interest in Thomas, but were unwilling to meet that price. Even so, Kansas City was reportedly open to discussing a deal if the price is reduced.

According to Schefter, NFL executives have handicapped the Chiefs as the favorites to trade for Thomas for multiple reasons including the fact that they have an extra second-round pick to work with from their Marcus Peters trade and GM Brett Veach is considered aggressive by many, and they play in the AFC.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks are now expected to place Thomas on injured reserve.

Thomas, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Seahawks back in 2010. He’s entering the final year of his five-year, $44.725 million contract that includes $27.725 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $8.5 million for the 2018 season.

Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.

In 2018, Thomas appeared in four games and recorded 22 tackles, three interceptions and five pass defense for the Seahawks.