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It’s been a rough season for the Seattle Seahawks offense, which has consistently struggled to move the ball due in large part to its subpar offensive line. That’s why trading for a top-tier talent such as Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas makes too much sense.
Heading into Week 8, Russell Wilson was the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. The patchwork offensive line has struggled mightily to keep him upright, and the recent ankle injury to starting left tackle Russell Okung hasn’t helped. In order to strengthen the offensive line and allow Wilson — and Marshawn Lynch — more room to make plays, trading for Thomas should be a real consideration.
The #Browns have engaged in discussions about potentially trading two of their best players: LT Joe Thomas and C Alex Mack, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2015
The Browns have reportedly begun looking for potential trade partners for Thomas as well as center Alex Mack. While Thomas is already 30 years old, he’s still arguably the best offensive lineman in the NFL. According to ProFootballFocus, he’s currently the highest-rated offensive lineman in the NFL.
The only obstacle when it comes to trading for Thomas is his salary, which currently sits at $8.8 million. In order to balance the books (the Seahawks only have about $1.5 million in cap space), Seattle would have to part with one of their best players.
The logical option would be Cliff Avril, who has a base salary of about $7.5 million. While parting with Avril wouldn’t be ideal for the Seahawks, he’s been on the decline over the last couple of years and the Seattle defensive line offers plenty of depth. By trading Avril (and maybe some picks) for Thomas, the Seahawks would be significantly upgrading their offensive line while giving their young pass rushers an opportunity to prove their worth.
Trading Okung (and picks) could also be an option considering he has a base salary of $7.5 million, and could offer the Browns some value as an expiring contract.
As we saw this offseason with the acquisition of Jimmy Graham, the Seahawks aren’t afraid to make blockbuster deals if it means filling a hole. Thomas would give Seattle one of the best blindside blockers in the NFL for the next few years, while also allowing them to avoid contract negotiations with an injury-prone Okung this upcoming offseason.
It’s a move that makes too much sense for the Seahawks. We’ll see if anything comes to fruition.
