I like the option of Brandon Carr at Safety over Earl Thomas from what we know right now. Some points in Carr’s favor –
1 – the Dallas scheme now plays deep safeties that are now closer to the CB position than the interchangeable SS/FS style the old scheme featured.
2 – Carr has always been a team leader while ET left the Ravens under ehem…..very unfavorable circumstances.
3 – Carr is very dependable, he has played 192 of 192 games in his 11 seasons. Thomas has had major injuries and hasn’t started all 16 games in five years. Carr is 34 but Dallas once thought Terrence Newman was washed up at that age and he started for another six seasons in the NFL.
4 – Carr made 6 Million for each of the last three years and would likely take less than that now on a deal that was mostly incentives. If ET chased Garrett into the tunnel to ask him to sign him, only to take the highest bid in Baltimore, it doesn’t make me think he will back off high contract demands. ET is clearly about taking the most money. We have the money, but that isn’t really the personality this coaching staff wants.
5 – ET’s play dropped off last year and plenty of CBs have extended their careers moving to Safety like Carr would in this move.
6 – Carr already played some safety last season and Darryl Worley can play safety early in the season, I don’t worry about either Carr or ET being able to step into the lineup after a game or two.