Does a trade for Earl Thomas make sense for Chargers?

Will the Seahawks trade FS Earl Thomas? Would he be a fit for the Chargers?

This is the time of year where many writers struggle to find ideas to write about. They will post anything to get views.

But Earl Thomas to the Chargers is something that’s been brought up a lot in the offseason. And both Thomas and the Chargers were connected again just recently. In an article by ESPN.com, they brought up three trade partners for Thomas, who is entering the final year of his four-year deal and skipped mandatory minicamp because he wants an extension.

Those trade partners were the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Chargers. For the deal to work, the Chargers would offer a 2019 second-round pick and 2020 fourth-round pick. Thomas would also get a four-year, $50 million extension in this scenario (including $32 million guaranteed).

I’m sure the whole “Chargers should trade for Earl Thomas” story has been brought up several times already (I think I even wrote one myself). The Chargers needed a safety before the draft, but they lucked out by stealing Derwin James with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

So in that case, would the Chargers really need Thomas? Even though the Chargers drafted James, ESPN said the Chargers could use a centerfielder like Thomas, who is familiar with DC Gus Bradley.

“The Chargers rotated several players at free safety this offseason and could still use a rangy center fielder like Thomas to roam the back end of an already talented secondary. Thomas is the ideal fit at free safety for Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s Cover 3 scheme. Bradley was in Seattle when the organization selected Thomas with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2010 draft.”

Nobody knows exactly what position James will play, which makes the idea of trading for Thomas a bit intriguing. However, the Chargers have roughly $9-10 million in salary cap space right now. Also, they drafted three safeties in the last two years, adding James, Rayshawn Jenkins and even the versatile Desmond King.

As good as Thomas is, he’s 29 years old and has missed seven games due to injury in the last two seasons. I don’t think this trade will happen, but if the Chargers did somehow manage to get Thomas on a good deal (and without giving up a lot), I’d be all for it. The defense, one that is already on the rise, would be dominant.