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Baltimore Ravens: Pros and cons of trading Earl Thomas

By Chris Schisler

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 20: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks and Earl Thomas #29 of the Baltimore Ravens exchange jerseys after the game at CenturyLink Field on October 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Baltimore Ravens top the Seattle Seahawks 30-16. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 20: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks and Earl Thomas #29 of the Baltimore Ravens exchange jerseys after the game at CenturyLink Field on October 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Baltimore Ravens top the Seattle Seahawks 30-16. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Earl Thomas #29 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled after a interception against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Imagese
MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Earl Thomas #29 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled after a interception against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Imagese /

Trading Earl Thomas is not an ideal situation but the Baltimore Ravens have to at least know it could come to that.

Before we get into the pros and cons we have to at least admit that trading Thomas isn’t an ideal situation. In a perfect world Thomas says he’s sorry to Chuck Clark and the rest of his teammates, everybody acts like adults and the team goes hunting for a Super Bowl. The Ravens signed Earl Thomas to a big contract. It’s a four year $55 million dollar deal. Getting out of the deal will be a challenge and at this point we’re not even sure that Eric DeCosta wants to go down that road. When the Ravens’ general manager signed Thomas, he did it for a reason. The Ravens needed an upgrade at free safety and Thomas certainly provided that for them.

Thomas is a good safety. He’s got the accolades to prove it. It’s not even worth arguing his merit. Thomas isn’t in this situation because of his performance. If Thomas can work this out with his team, the secondary should be elite. That’s what the Ravens have to hope for. That was part of the plan that built the 2020 roster.

The reason we’re having this conversation is twofold. First, the chemistry of the Ravens team is very important. This is a team that wants to take away the top spot in the AFC from the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a team that doesn’t just want to win their division for the third straight year, they want to overcome the divisional round hurdle together. The 2019 regular season was more fun than any season the Ravens have ever had.

Related Story. Reactions to the Earl Thomas problem. light

It wasn’t just because things were going well. It was because this is a special group, a team that has bought in and is collectively hungry,. If the disconnect between Thomas and his teammates cannot be fixed, it’s going to impact the defense on and off the field. If it creates a problem that distracts the Ravens to a point where things stop working, all the sudden trading Thomas is in play. So what are the pros and cons? Let’s discuss this.

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