The Seattle Seahawks have locked down all of their free agency moves and as the draft grows closer, they are not concentrating on keeping around key players for years to come. Contract extensions are now in the works for several key members of the Super Bowl winning team, but can Seattle give everyone the money that they want?
Michael Bennett was the first of the bunch to get a new extension and now Earl Thomas has been given his ne pay check. Thomas is officially the highest paid safety in the league, agreeing to a four-year deal worth $40 million. ESPN and NFL.com reported that Thomas agreed to terms on Monday and the deal also includes $27.75 in guaranteed money.
Thomas has proved worthy of the money. At 24, he is considered the best safety in the NFL right now and has plenty of years left to keep up the high play. Thomas' deal ranks higher than Jairus Byrd's contract with the New Orleans Saints which was worth six years and $54 million. Troy Palamalu was once the highest paid safety at $9.8 million, but now $10 million annually is the new benchmark for premier secondary stars.
So now who is the next Seattle star to get their pay raise? Richard Sherman has been patiently waiting for the Seahawks to determine his value on the team, something that is not going as well as planned. The two sides have been in negotiations over the past two weeks on a long-term contract for the 26-year-old, but so far nothing has gotten done. Speaking to media at an event, Sherman said he expects a deal to get done before the season stars, but their pace of negotiations says otherwise.
According to CBSSports.com, the Seahawks are putting all of their focus on the cornerback. Their cost-cutting moves regarding players like Golden Tate, Chris Clemons and Red Bryant certainly help the efforts to nail down Sherman before the draft approaches in just over a week, but how much will it be for? Darrelle Revis is making $16 million in two years with the Patriots. Brandon Carr is getting $25.5 million in guaranteed cash from the Cowboys while Aqib Taleb is earning upwards of $57 million with the Broncos.
Sherman's stats are the more impressive of the bunch. NFL experts believe a contract worth more than $16 million a year is what the cornerback will earn after recording 16 interceptions over the past two seasons. He can also expect to get more in guaranteed money than Carr.
After Sherman, Russell Wilson will be next. The quarterback stresses he never asked Seattle for a new deal, but currently both Terrelle Pryor and Tarvaris Jackson are making more than the Super Bowl champ. The Seahawks are aiming for that to change.
