Report: Seahawks sign Earl Thomas to 4-year, $40-million contract extension
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Earlier this offseason, the Seattle Seahawks announced a press conference and many in the media jumped to the conclusion it meant a contract extension for safety Earl Thomas. As it turned out, the press conference was to announce a new deal for head coach Pete Carroll. Thomas would have to wait.
Until Monday, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The #Seahawks have locked up star safety Earl Thomas to a blockbuster long-term extension, source says. Easily the highest-paid safety.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2014
The #Seahawks four-year extension for safety Earl Thomas pays him $40 million base value with $27.725 million guaranteed, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2014
The deal makes Thomas the highest-paid safety in football, and is the most lucrative for a defensive back on a multi-year deal, per Rapoport. The contract tops the $9-million average the Saints gave Jairus Byrd and the $8.3 million of Chiefs safety Eric Berry.
Last season marked the third year in a row Thomas was named both a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. He registered career highs with 105 tackles and two forced fumbles and matched his career best with five interceptions, en route to finishing third in defensive player of the year voting.
Thomas was a key piece of the Seahawks Super Bowl-winning defense and at 24 years old, it was important for Seattle to lock him up long term.
So happy for my dude @Earl_Thomas. You don't deserve anything in life. My man EARNED that!
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) April 28, 2014