It took about five minutes Friday to make the connection. The release of wide receiver Dez Bryant saved the Cowboys $8.5 million in salary cap space. Seattle safety Earl Thomas’ salary cap number for 2018 is $8.5 million.

You all remember the scene in the Cowboys locker room in December, Thomas telling head coach Jason Garrett to "come get me." Mind you, this was after the Seahawks had just killed the Cowboys' playoff chances, not the other way around. Thomas, the six-time Pro Bowl safety from the University of Texas, was practically begging to leave the "Legion of Boom" and come home to play the remainder of his career.

So the speculation began right away. Three days later, we haven’t really heard anything but there’s no reason it couldn’t happen in 10 days when AT&T Stadium is the site for the NFL draft. While I think it would be a sensational move for the Cowboys, there are two considerable prices to consider, which is why I’m reluctant to think this has any real chance of happening.

One is the new contract for Thomas, which isn’t that big of a deal. The Cowboys have $22 million in dead money on the books for 2018, second highest figure in the NFL. But moving forward with Tony Romo and Bryant off the books, they have room in 2019. And while they want to extend guard Zack Martin, there’s still going to be money left. The financial component of this deal should not be a stumbling block.

What exactly will the Seahawks demand?

I don't see Dallas trading its pick at 19 to get an eight-year veteran, but would the Cowboys deal their second- and third-round picks? The notion that the Cowboys are loaded with extra picks is a bit overplayed. They have an extra pick in the fourth round and two more in the sixth. Extra third-day picks can be used to move up on the second day, but they aren't going to bring much when you're seeking premier talent.

I think a trade of reasonable picks works, and the salary works. So why won’t it happen? Right now the Cowboys are all about creating a young foundation. They have Dak Prescott (24), DeMarcus Lawrence (24), Ezekiel Elliott (22) and, of course, an offensive line that should remain solid for years to come. Bryant was turning 30 this season and seemed like an old 30 at that, given the number of games and plays he was missing.

The Cowboys added Allen Hurns, but Hurns is not expected to produce at Bryant’s elite level. He might produce at Bryant’s more recent level. But if you’re looking for “Triplets," then the name to drop in alongside Dak and Zeke is the one the Cowboys draft.

There’s a good chance Dallas waits until the second round to do that. They need a linebacker and they need a safety and could take either one of them in the first round. That’s what gets me back to thinking Thomas may not get that call.

While much of the talk has been centered on middle linebacker since Anthony Hitchens signed with Kansas City, I don’t expect the Cowboys to go for a linebacker right away. It could happen if Georgia’s Roquan Smith falls into their lap, but it’s probably not the way to bet.

A leader in the secondary would bring greater value to the defense. The Cowboys apparently love the top safety in the draft, Florida State’s Derwin James. But then again who doesn’t? In most mock drafts, he’s a top 10 pick, often being selected as high as 7 by Tampa Bay.

It’s hard to get from 19 into the top 10 but it’s not impossible. If the Cowboys could find the right fit, a team rebuilding (Chicago?) that might be interested in next year’s first-round pick as well, it could be done without ripping apart this year’s draft.

This team has sought top talent in the secondary in recent years. They moved up to draft Mo Claiborne and ended up with, seemingly, the one LSU first-round pick who wasn’t worthy. They were highly interested in Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey two years ago. Ramsey is now a difference maker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Cowboys took Elliott and should have no regrets if he can just play football and forget the rest.

But James would be a better fit than Thomas -- less expensive initially but more costly in terms of the draft picks used to attain him. While it would be a symmetrical move, replacing Bryant with another player taken in the first round of the 2010 draft, today’s Cowboys seem more about finding that young base that will lift them out of their lingering playoff slump.

Thomas would be a fine fit for now. An elite rookie to join the two the Cowboys landed in 2016 seems to be the preference.