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Remember the last time the Houston Texans had a Pro Bowl safety? It’s only happened once. One player, from either safety spots, over the course of seventeen seasons.
Danieal Manning back in 2013. And he was an alternate.
Now, imagine if Houston could send not one (Tyrann Mathieu), but two starters to the NFL’s All-Star Game after the 2018 season.
Having two Pro Bowl caliber safeties, with a strong up-and-comer in Justin Reid, would be something the team’s never had before.
Earl Thomas could be that guy. The Houston defense would truly be locking it down, all day, all over the place.
Yet the folks over at ESPN don’t seem to think Houston is a legit answer to the question “Where should Seattle trade their All-Pro safety?”
They recently published a piece discussing the possible trade suitors and only mentioned H-Town in passing when referencing the Duane Brown trade last season.
Here’s what the folks at ESPN do suggest as possible landing spots for Thomas:
Trade offer to Seahawks: 2019 third-round pick, 2020 fourth-round pick
Length and value of extension for Thomas: Five years for $62.5 million
Full guarantee at signing: $25 million
Total guarantee: $31 million
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Trade offer to Seahawks: Right guard Shaq Mason
Length and value of extension for Thomas: Three years for $39 million
Full guarantee at signing: $22 million
Total guarantee: $28.5 million
***
Trade offer to Seahawks: 2019 second-round pick and 2020 fourth-round pick
Length and value of extension for Thomas: Four years for $50 million
Full guarantee at signing: $20 million
Total guarantee: $32 million
Seeing Thomas hit the Pro Bowl in either a blue star or clam chowder uniform is far from ideal. Seeing him land in San Diego Los Angeles with the Chargers seems like a waste of an historical player. But watching him hit AFC South rivals alongside the Honey Badger would make for awesome highlight reels.
Seattle may as well cut to the chase and send him to Houston.
What do you think? With these hypothetical deals on the table, what would you offer to try and bring Earl Thomas to the Texans so he could play with J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus and the rest of Romeo Crennel’s crew?