Will the Chargers make a move for Earl Thomas III?

Although safety was a position of concern for many people going into last season, Jahleel Addae and Tre Boston both had a good year, so many of those concerns were dispelled.

In a recent article posted by ESPN, Los Angeles Chargers’ beat writer Eric D. Williams made the bold prediction that, “The Chargers will trade for a defensive playmaker”. He goes on to suggest that the Chargers may pursue Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, but just how realistic is that suggestion. In this article, I will look at some of the factors that go into the practicality of this move.

Gus Bradley has worked with Thomas before

During his stint as the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks, where Bradley gained notoriety around the league due to his success, he utilized the safety very heavily. Thomas was a main part of the well-known Legion of Boom.

Now, as the defensive coordinator for our Bolts for the next few seasons to come, Bradley may be able to benefit from bringing in a strong player from one of his old systems due to the familiarity between the player and the coach.

Tre Boston is a free agent this offseason

During the 2017 off-season, the Chargers made a small splash in free agency when they signed former Panthers safety, Tre Boston. Boston, who immediately stepped into the role of former Bolts’ starter Dwight Lowery, had a very successful season with the Bolts, tallying five interceptions and 56 tackles on the year.

Boston was only on a $900,000 contract last season, so after his strong performance, he will likely see a fairly significant pay raise this year. If the Chargers are able to re-sign Boston at a fair price, it seems rather unlikely they would make a play for another safety, but, if Boston goes elsewhere, the Chargers would likely be more interested in making a move at the position.