Seahawks FS Earl Thomas earned a $900,000 base salary escalator for 2014, bringing his new scheduled pay to $4.625 million.

Thomas' rookie deal contained language setting him up for a large final-year escalator and he earned it based on interceptions, Pro Bowl berths, and Seahawks playoff wins. Thomas, 24, is now in line for a monster pay day on a forthcoming extension. He's arguably the NFL's premier free safety, and Thomas' contract expires after 2014. Seattle is going to have to pay a lot of folks very soon. They've been roster hoarding on nailed draft picks and cheap rookie deals.

Coach Pete Carroll said FS Earl Thomas is just hitting his prime now.

Seahawks FS Earl Thomas triggered an escalator in his contract, raising his 2013 salary from $1.575 million to $2.05 million.

Thomas' 2014 salary was also affected, and it jumps from $2.5 million to $3.725 million. Thomas has started all 48 games since being the No. 14 overall pick in the 2010 draft. Over that span, the ball-hawking safety has totaled 240 tackles and ten interceptions. Thomas is a two-time Pro Bowler and has two years left on his rookie deal.

Seahawks FS Earl Thomas triggered $475,000 in incentives by earning a 2012 Pro Bowl berth and steering his team to a playoff win.

Thomas triggered the $200K Pro Bowl bonus before intercepting Robert Griffin III in Seattle's Wild Card Round win over Washington. Arguably the top young free safety in football, 23-year-old Thomas finished 2012 with 66 tackles, a forced fumble, and three picks. Now a two-time Pro Bowler through three NFL seasons, Thomas already has ten regular season interceptions in his career.

FS Earl Thomas is the first Seahawk to make the Pro Bowl since 2008-09.

The Seahawks sent LB Julian Peterson and legendary OT Walter Jones that season. A first-round pick in 2010, Thomas has graded out as the eighth best safety in the league by Pro Football Focus after having an up-and-down rookie year.

Seahawks FS Earl Thomas is drawing comparisons to Troy Polamalu.

Thomas piled up 75 tackles, five interceptions, a forced fumble and seven passes defensed as a rookie last season. "Both appear to be moving at a different speed," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin of Thomas and Polamalu. With elite safeties like LaRon Landry and Eric Berry sidelined by injury, Thomas is moving up the IDP totem pole.

Seahawks FS Earl Thomas left Sunday's game holding his chest after failing to make a tackle.

Thomas crashed into Marques Colston trying to make a tackle and walked away clearly shaken up. It's possible he injured his rib, but we'll let you know when we hear official word.

Seahawks FS Earl Thomas will meet the team in New Orleans after leaving Friday's practice to attend a memorial service in Texas.

Thomas is fully expected to play Sunday against the Saints. The rookie continues to be a fringe IDP player due to his inability to have a presence "in the box."

Seahawks FS Earl Thomas logged just two tackles in a Week 4 loss at St. Louis, but intercepted a Sam Bradford pass in the end zone.

Thomas' pick kept this contest a one-score game until the Rams took control in the second half. The No. 14 overall selection in the 2010 draft now has three interceptions in his last two games, and is on the IDP radar as an option against gunslinger-type QBs, like Chicago's Jay Cutler in Week 6 after the 'Hawks return from their bye.

Seahawks first-round FS Earl Thomas was immediately inserted with the first team on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas signed in the early hours of Sunday morning and was a starter just a few hours later. He'll line up opposite Jordan Babineaux or Lawyer Milloy and will make plenty of big plays for the Seahawks. However, he's a fringe IDP candidate due to a lack of "in the box" presence.

Seahawks signed No. 14 overall pick CB Earl Thomas to a five-year, $21.1 million contract, including $12.32 guaranteed.

Last year's 14th pick, Malcolm Jenkins, received $19 million with $11 million guaranteed. Thomas, possessing the best ball skills of any safety in the draft, will step right into the starting lineup at free safety. A favorite of NFL Network's Mike Mayock, he's a potential impact player on a defense starving for big plays.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed that the tentative plan is for Earl Thomas to start at safety opposite Jordan Babineaux.

"He could easily be a corner in our system," Carroll said. "But I think our need and the ability to free him up to cover a lot of ground is what we're hoping to show." Babineaux started at free safety last year, but he has a size advantage on Thomas whereas Thomas has far superior speed and ball skills.

Seahawks selected Texas S Earl Thomas with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

"He's the most instinctive safety I've ever seen on tape," noted NFL Network's Mike Mayock. Thomas, just a third-year sophomore (the only one in this class), ranked second nationally in interceptions last season, returning two for TDs to earn first-team All-American honors. He also finished second on the Longhorns in tackles. A strong safety in college, Thomas projects as a free safety on early downs in Seattle and a potential slot corner in the nickel package. He'll definitely start right away in an awful Seattle secondary.