The champion Seattle Seahawks took a step toward keeping their Super Bowl roster together Thursday by reaching an agreement with inside linebacker Drake Thomas on a two-year, $8 million contract, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The deal can be worth up to $9 million.
Thomas, 26, was set to become a restricted free agent. In lieu of a one-year tender, the Seahawks will now have an emerging player in their top-ranked scoring defense signed through 2027.
Thomas rose from an undrafted free agent in 2023 to a starter and playmaker in 2025, winning the weakside linebacker job outright after sharing time early in the season with Tyrice Knight.
In 17 regular-season games, Thomas recorded 96 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception and eight passes defensed. His interception -- the first of his career -- came in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers, a game Seattle won 13-3 to claim the NFC West title and the conference's No. 1 seed.
Thomas made 18 more tackles, including one for loss, in Seattle's three playoff games.
After going undrafted out of North Carolina State, Thomas was initially signed by the Las Vegas Raiders, who waived him before the 2023 season. He was claimed by the Seahawks and suffered a season-ending knee injury that November. Thomas played in all 17 games in 2024 and led Seattle in special teams snaps.
The NFL Network first reported Seattle's agreement with Thomas.
