Latest On Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas

The Seahawks could be ready to abandon a Richard Sherman trade attempt soon. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets Sherman is likely to be released Friday.

Sherman’s been a subject of departure rumors throughout the offseason, and this week has been wishing teammates farewell following a meeting with team brass. It’s been suggested Sherman could opt to return to Seattle at a lower price, but Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap noted that wouldn’t make much sense on a market that could see the high-profile cap casualty command $11MM per year.

If the Seahawks were to cut Sherman, they would save $11MM. The decorated corner will turn 30 later this month and is coming off a torn Achilles’ tendon, but he still figures to have a competitive market if he becomes available. He’d join the likes of Trumaine Johnson and Malcolm Butler as high-end free agent corners.

As for Earl Thomas, the Seahawks do not seem prepared to move on from him, after all.

Some trepidation about committing to another deal with the top-tier safety existed on the team’s part after Thomas’ comments about the Cowboys, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link) the team has since found out Thomas is committed to the team.

This comes after Thomas made multiple comments about a potential holdout. He’s entering the final year of his second Seahawks contract and after surmounting a broken leg would appear set to sign another top-market deal.

While Seattle would be willing to take “whatever it can get for” Sherman, it’s set a high price on Thomas. And Rapoport estimates the three-time All-Pro safety will be back in the Pacific Northwest next season and beyond.

Beyond would involve a high-end extension, which would be interesting given the purge that’s happening this week and the uncertain futures around some of the Seahawks’ other Super Bowl core members dealing with serious injuries. But Thomas will only be 29 in 2018 and would seemingly have plenty of quality seasons left.

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