The Seahawks and Richard Sherman have made “considerable progress” on a new long-term contract for the standout cornerback, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. According to La Canfora, Seattle is prepared to make Sherman, whose current deal expires after the 2014 season, the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Per OverTheCap.com’s data, the largest per-year salary at cornerback currently belongs to Darrelle Revis, though his $16MM annual average is a little misleading, since his deal will almost certainly end up being one year for $12MM. Brandon Carr is the runner-up, at a little over $10MM per year. As for Sherman, several league sources expect his next deal to exceed $13MM per year, according to La Canfora, though he notes that the Seahawks have resisted going up to $14MM annually.
La Canfora writes that Ben Dogra and Jimmy Sexton of CAA, Sherman’s new agents, have been engaged in contract talks with the Seahawks for some time, and says negotiations have been “amicable and productive.” While nothing is necessarily imminent, there’s a chance the two sides could finalize something in time for May’s draft. That would have a significant impact on extension talks for other young star corners around the league, such as the Browns’ Joe Haden and the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson.
Sherman, who is in line for a $1.431MM base salary in 2014, is viewed as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and based on the numbers reported by La Canfora, it sounds like the Seahawks believe he deserves to be atop that list. Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required) ranked Sherman outside the top five at the position in 2013, though quarterbacks compiled a meager 47.3 QB rating on passes into his coverage, which was the best mark in the league. The 26-year-old, who earned his second All-Pro spot in 2013, also grabbed a league-leading eight interceptions.