5 potential landing spots for Earl Thomas

Another high-profile safety is available for teams looking to bolster their secondary ahead of the 2020 season.

The New York Jets dealt Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks last month after granting his trade request, and now the Baltimore Ravens have released star safety Earl Thomas following an altercation with a teammate during practice.

Thomas' release marks the second time he is leaving a franchise on a sour note. However, there's no debate about whether he can be an ideal short-term impact player for teams needing a defensive upgrade.

With this in mind, here are five teams that might be a good fit for the former All-Pro defensive back.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are reportedly considered the leading contender to land Thomas - and it's not hard to understand why.

Dallas' secondary is arguably their biggest weakness after this offseason, and they're especially suffering at cornerback after Byron Jones' departure. Thomas' versatility could provide a mouth-watering asset to a team that allowed a 65% completion rate to opposing quarterbacks with a league-low seven interceptions last season.

Thomas received the highest grade while in coverage last season (minimum of 10 games), according to PFF.

Additionally, the Texas native and Longhorns alum has previously mentioned he would enjoy playing for the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones wasn't counting on a seven-time Pro Bowl safety becoming available with the regular season just around the corner. Landing in Dallas would make Thomas' old wish a reality and give Jones a chance to set up a star defensive unit with the same potential as the Cowboys' top-tier offense.

Please, the Cowboys, come get me."

-Earl Thomas on December 24,2017 pic.twitter.com/gqp0eb2VFo

- Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) August 23, 2020

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers were linked to Thomas after the Seahawks released him following the 2018 campaign, and one season later, the veteran still makes sense for the squad.

San Francisco owned one of football's top defenses last season and had the best coverage unit in the NFL, according to PFF. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh used zone coverage in pass defense at the fourth-highest rate in the league. His system was outstanding against outside receivers but struggled against slot pass-catchers, finishing 15th in DVOA and expected points added.

The 31-year-old has a rare ability to cover the entire football field, and his explosiveness would fit in perfectly with San Francisco.

Keeping such high standards in the secondary for consecutive seasons is a tough feat in the NFL, particularly for an aging unit that lacks depth like the 49ers. Thomas could solve those problems - pairing him with cornerback Richard Sherman reunites a duo that was a pivotal piece in the league's best defense not too long ago.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

All of a sudden, every star player with immediate-impact potential makes sense for the Buccaneers - and rightfully so. Tampa Bay stole all the headlines after the arrivals of quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski, and it's now aiming for another Super Bowl title.

While the Buccaneers seemingly have their entire offense set, that is not the case for their defense. The unit improved late in 2019 but still relies too much on young players. Thomas brings championship pedigree to a safety group also featuring 2019 third-round pick Mike Edwards, 2020 second-round selection Antoine Winfield Jr., and veteran Justin Evans, who missed all of last season due to injury.

The Bucs' salary cap situation would need to be re-worked if they want to acquire Thomas, but any extra effort to upgrade their roster seems valid, considering Tampa Bay's short Super Bowl window.

Arizona Cardinals

Two things we've learned in the last 12 months: the Cardinals' defense desperately needs an upgrade, and the franchise's front office turned on the "win now" button after drafting quarterback Kyler Murray last year.

The 16 quarterbacks Arizona faced last season completed 70% of their pass attempts on average for 4,510 yards and 38 touchdowns with just seven interceptions - all marks which rank among the bottom five in the NFL. The team is set to enter the new season with Jalen Thompson alongside Budda Baker at safety, but Thompson is still an unproven second-year defensive back - not ideal for a roster trying to make a playoff run.

After pulling an aggressive move to add DeAndre Hopkins to Kliff Kingsbury's offense, landing Thomas could also give the Cardinals an immediate star contributor on the defensive side of the ball. It could be necessary since they play in the same division as quarterback Russell Wilson and a Sean McVay-led offense.

New England Patriots

Bill Belichick has never shied away from explosive and dynamic safeties capable of lining up anywhere while also offering great ballhawk skills.

The position group was on the Patriots' spotlight this offseason after the team drafted Kyle Dugger in the second round last April and recently lost veteran captain Patrick Chung, who opted out of the upcoming campaign due to COVID-19 concerns. Chung was one of eight players from New England to skip the 2020 season, easily making them the most impacted club in the NFL.

Bringing in Thomas would add to a shorthanded defense aiming to remain among the league's top units after losing its franchise signal-caller, while also offering an ideal playmaker to Belichick, who now has cap space in 2020 after a handful of opt-outs.

It's fair to say that Thomas isn't in his prime anymore - his last first-team All-Pro nod came in 2014 - but that doesn't mean he's not still among football's best safeties. The 2010 first-round pick has made the Pro Bowl in two of the last three seasons.

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