Texas Football: 3 best Earl Thomas landing spots post-release
Where would be the best spot for the former Texas football All-American safety Earl Thomas to land after getting released by the Ravens this offseason?
One of the most surprising bits of news that dropped for any player in the NFL this offseason, not just among those alumni of the Texas football program at the next level, was the Baltimore Ravens release of Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas earlier this month. After conduct that was apparently detrimental to the team, and multiple weird incidents this offseason, Thomas was released from his contract by the Ravens and immediately became one of the most high-profile names to hit free agency this offseason.
Few expected a safety like Thomas to pop up on the free agent market just a few weeks shy of the start of the 2020 regular season. But it wasn’t under the best circumstances that Thomas was able to hit free agency for the second time in the last two offseasons.
Not only did the Ravens part ways with the 31-year-old Thomas prior to the start of his 11th season in the NFL, they reportedly could be saving as much as $10 million in guaranteed contract money this year. A clause in his contract allows the Ravens to get that money back from his guaranteed salary.
If Ravens suspend Earl Thomas for conduct detrimental to the team, they can cut him and avoid his $10M guarantee for 2020 https://t.co/nhphxmfiTo
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 22, 2020
It appears that the Ravens plan to replace Thomas in the secondary is with fellow former Longhorn safety, and 2017 First-Team All-American DeShon Elliott. That will be a big change for the Ravens secondary, but will give a former Longhorn a chance to shine on a true contender in the AFC.
But with Thomas on his way out of Baltimore, where could the seven-time Pro Bowler and former first round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2010 NFL Draft land next? Here’s a look into three of the best landing spots for Thomas this offseason.