Earl Thomas rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency
1. San Francisco 49ers
After being one of the popular sleeper teams in the league heading into last season, the 49ers are hoping for a mulligan in 2019. With Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon ideally ready to go for the start of the season coming off ACL tears, the offense should be pretty good under the guidance of head coach Kyle Shanahan.
But the defense needs some help, particularly in the secondary after grabbing a league-low two interceptions last season. The 49ers are also plenty equipped to pony up and pay Thomas, with the sixth-most cap space in the league ($63.8 million). Add in a reunion with former “Legion of Boom”-er Richard Sherman, along with San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh running a Seattle-rooted defensive scheme based on his time as an assistant there, and the fit between the 49ers and Thomas is almost too good as it checks every notable box.
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The way things went astray between Thomas and the Seahawks, it’s safe to say he would welcome the opportunity to face them twice a year. Apart from everything else pointing to a connection, he can only do that with the 49ers and the team can benefit from the revenge angle.