Rodney Thomas II may be back in familiar territory, only this time the opening could be bigger than anyone expected.
The former Indianapolis Colts safety entered the league as a seventh-round pick out of Yale in 2022 and quickly outplayed the usual expectations for that draft slot. He became a solid starter over his first two seasons, which made his slide in year three even more striking. His defensive workload fell from 82 percent of snaps in 2023 to just nine percent in 2024, and he played only 13 percent of the snaps last season.
Now Thomas is in Seattle, and the Seahawks might need him sooner than planned. He didn’t get re-signed by Indianapolis in free agency, then joined the Seahawks, last season’s Super Bowl winner, with a path to a backup job and special teams work. His training camp was steady, if not eye-catching, but circumstances changed when starter Nick Emmanwori had ankle surgery in July and missed all of camp and the preseason.
That injury opened the door, and another one widened it. Rookie Bud Clark is out for the season with an ankle injury, leaving Seattle thin before Week 1 against the New England Patriots. With Emmanwori’s status still unknown, Thomas could be pushed into the third safety spot in Mike Macdonald’s defense, where three-safety looks are a major part of the package.
If that happens, Thomas would be asked to do what he does best: stay sound deep in coverage. Julian Love would handle more of the Emmanwori responsibilities, lining up in the slot and closer to the line of scrimmage.
Colts fans already know the book on Thomas. He can hold up in coverage, but he has never been a top-tier playmaker.
In his first two seasons with Indianapolis, he allowed seven interceptions, though he also had six interceptions. His passer rating allowed was 95.5, respectable without being dominant.
The Colts moved on because Nick Cross, who also left in free agency this offseason, was stronger against the run. That remains the area that gives Thomas trouble, which is why Seattle is unlikely to lean on him in the Emmanwori role.
So this may not be a permanent answer for the Seahawks, and it wasn’t one for the Colts either. But it could be a useful runway for Thomas early in 2026, a chance to show enough to make himself interesting to another team down the line. If he handles the opportunity, 2027 could bring another move - this time for the right reasons.
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