Former Buffaloes star Tedric Thompson could start for Seattle Seahawks in 2018

2018 has been a year of tumult for the Seattle Seahawks secondary, but that could bode well for Tedric Thompson. The former Buffaloes star could see a significant with the Seahawks this season.

Thompson was selected by Seattle in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. With the Buffs, he was an invaluable piece of the best secondary in the Pac-12. In his senior year, he had 63 tackles and a conference-high 7 interceptions; his performance was good enough to be named to Second Team All-Pac-12. When the Seahawks picked him, they knew they were getting someone who could be physical against the run and a rangy playmaker in a Cover 3 defense. Thompson didn’t play much in 2017, but he has set himself up nicely for 2018.

Seattle’s former “Legion of Boom” is nothing more than a memory. Richard Sherman left for the 49ers — where he now starts opposite Ahkello Witherspoon — and bone-crushing safety Kam Chancellor recently retired. The only player left is Earl Thomas, however the future Hall of Famer is jaded with the Seahawks’ front office and is holding out for a new contract. It’s a messy situation that is far from over, but it’s actually Thomas’s absence that has opened up a spot for Thompson.

Thompson has spent the offseason as the Seahawks’ first-team free safety. He has been acclimating to NFL speed, building chemistry with the other members of a fresh secondary, and generally working his ass off to become a better player. He’s also been playing against the first-team Seattle offense, to which he has excelled. In practice the other day, he opened up eyes when he reportedly made a diving play to intercept Russell Wilson. If he continues to play as he has in the preseason, Seahawks fans should learn to love him as much as we do.

Thompson will never fully replace Earl Thomas, but no one could. But Thompson is a dynamic safety who has gotten better each and every year; he’s definitely an NFL talent and deserves a chance as a starter. He was likely the Seahawks’ safety of the future, but should the Thomas situation continue, the future could be now for Thompson.