Former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Eric Davis has some ideas on how his former team can improve this offseason, and they match the thoughts running through the minds of the fans.
"Go get Earl Thomas and Antonio Brown," Davis declared via Twitter.
@RSherman_25- Go get @Earl_Thomas and @AB84 .🤷🏽♂️
— Eric Davis (@_ericdavis_) February 12, 2019
The interesting thing is that Davis directed the comment toward current 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, who then responded.
👌🏾
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 12, 2019
Brown wants to play for the 49ers. There is no recruitment necessary there. Of course, there is the issue of him being signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers through the 2021 season, but that's nothing a little trade talk at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month can't fix.
As for Thomas, a big hubbub was made over the fact that the Seattle Seahawks safety, along with his wife, are in Austin, Texas and recently enrolled their children in school there. Thomas, who grew up in the state, played college football at the University of Texas, which is located in Austin. The family has also spent parts of past offseasons in the area.
The story fueled speculation connecting Thomas to the Dallas Cowboys. After all, he went into the Cowboys locker room after a game in 2017 and told head coach Jason Garrett, "If y'all have the chance, come get me."
"I went to the locker room and talked to Dez, and I saw Coach Garrett, and you know, I've always been a Cowboys fan growing up," Thomas later said of the exchange. "But the biggest thing when I say 'come get me' is — I don't literally mean 'come get me now.' I'm still in the prime of my career. I still want to be here. But when Seattle kicks me to the curb, please, the Cowboys come get me."
Thomas is scheduled to hit free agency in March and him enrolling his kids just three hours away from Dallas isn't necessarily a guarantee that he will land with the Cowboys. It is, however, a strong indication (as if anyone needed one) that he has no intention of returning to Seattle.
The 49ers run a defensive scheme Thomas is familiar with and have more salary cap space available to them compared to the Cowboys. Of course, Dallas could certainly afford Thomas if they wanted to sign him.
The 49ers also have a familiar face and friend in Sherman, who in December said he has no problem trying to recruit impending free agents like Thomas.
"I think this is a pretty attractive destination as is," he told reporters, "but money is the best recruiter. I'll do my two cents."
Sherman seemed confident that the 49ers would make a push to acquire Thomas.
"Would I love to play with Earl Thomas III? Sure," Sherman continued. "I would love to. I'd love to have him back in the locker room. But I'm sure he'll have a plethora of opportunities, but I'm sure we're going to throw our hat in the ring."