Richard Sherman - Pro Football Rumors

NFC West Notes: Sherman, Seahawks, Cards

May 5th, 2021 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of Richard Sherman‘s potential paths appears to have closed, with the Raiders having reunited Casey Hayward with DC Gus Bradley. This narrows the All-Pro cornerback’s suitor total. The 49ers may still be in play, despite Sherman indicating in February he would not be back.

“There’s always a chance it could end up working back in the Bay, that I head back that way,” Sherman said Wednesday during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take (via NBC Sports Bay Area). “That’s another place I’m really comfortable going. Obviously know the staff, know the team well. Just spent time there and would be ecstatic if something happened there.”

Sherman added that a deal that would bring him back to San Francisco is unlikely to commence until late in the summer or perhaps in-season. The 49ers may, however, still possess a need for a boundary corner. The team re-signed Emmanuel Moseley and injury-prone Jason Verrett and used third- and fifth-round picks on corners. But a proven starter like Sherman could still be necessary. Sherman has also spoken with the Saints and Seahawks. Sherman, 33, still lives in the city and said Wednesday a second Seahawks stint would appeal to him. Pete Carroll, however, said the addition of another veteran cornerback is not on the team’s front-burner at this point, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

Despite Cardinals first-round pick Zaven Collins checking in at 270 pounds this offseason, the team is not planning to use him as a Chandler Jones complementary pass rusher. The second hybrid linebacker to join the Cards as a first-round pick in the past two years, Collins is ticketed for an inside linebacker role alongside 2020 first-rounder Isaiah Simmons. GM Steve Keim fashions Collins as a middle linebacker, via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban. Simmons, whom the Cards deployed as more of a hybrid player, did not assimilate immediately as a rookie and ended up playing less than 35% of the team’s defensive snaps last season. But the Cards will use Collins, who did work as more of a chess piece at Tulsa, off the ball to start his career. The Cardinals have invested plenty at the off-ball ‘backer spots in recent years, having stationed Haason Reddick there upon drafting him in the 2017 first round and signing Jordan Hicks last year.
Normally high on tall corners for their outside spots, the Seahawks deviated from that philosophy last season by playing 5-foot-9 D.J. Reed on the boundary. They will follow suit with fourth-round pick Tre Brown, who checks in at 5-10. “We would love to have big corners and all that,” GM John Schneider said, via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. “… But you have to adjust to the times, too, and there is only a certain amount of players that you can pick from.”
Although the Seahawks drafted tackle Stone Forsythe in Round 6, Schneider said he attempted to make a trade that would allow the team to select him in the fourth, via Henderson. Forsythe, who played at Florida, was the only O-lineman the Seahawks chose. Of course, the team only ended up making three picks this year.
Former 49ers third-round pick Jalen Hurd has not played in a regular-season game, despite being a 2019 draftee. The once-promising wideout has seen back and knee injuries sidetrack his career. While Hurd should not be considered a lock to play for the 49ers, due to his run of injuries, GM John Lynch expects him to be ready to go come camp, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.

NFC Notes: Bears, Fields, Winston, Sherman

May 2nd, 2021 at 9:17pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Bears made the biggest splash of the draft by trading up for Justin Fields. When they did so, it couldn’t have been welcome news to Andy Dalton. Dalton signed with Chicago this offseason hoping to be their starter in 2021, and obviously the Fields pick put that plan in jeopardy. But Bears head coach Matt Nagy talked to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shortly after the pick and told Rapoport he “wants the Kansas City model” that the Chiefs did with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes (Twitter video link).Smith, of course, played the entire 2017 season before Mahomes took over in 2018.

Nagy was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City for that ’17 season before getting hired by the Bears. Rapoport says “their goal is to have Andy Dalton play the entire year, have Fields develop under the radar, and then pass the torch the following year.” Despite Nagy’s contentions, that’s almost certainly unrealistic. Nagy is coaching for his job this season, and both he and GM Ryan Pace are on the hottest of seats. They need to win in 2021, and they know it. It’s far from guaranteed Dalton even makes it to Week 1 as the starter, and assuming he does he’ll be on a very short leash. For what it’s worth, Rapsheet notes the Bears did call and talk to Dalton about moving up for a quarterback prior to making the trade. As he points out, that’s more than Aaron Rodgers got from the Packers with Jordan Love.

Here’s more from around the NFC on a quiet Sunday night:

The Saints just drafted Notre Dame passer Ian Book in the fourth-round, but he’s not likely to be involved in the competition between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill to become Drew Brees‘ successor. We heard when Winston re-upped with the Saints on a one-year deal with $5.5MM guaranteed worth “up to” $12MM that he had significant incentives, and now we have the details on those incentives. They come courtesy of Nick Underhill from NewOrleans.Football (Twitter link). There are too many to list here, but Winston will get $62.5K for every game where he plays more than 50 percent of the snaps up to $1MM. He’ll get $500K if he throws 20 touchdown passes ($1MM if he hits 25). He’s got an incentive for pretty much everything, including another $500K if the Saints make the playoffs and he plays 70 percent of the snaps.
We heard earlier this weekend that Richard Sherman was talking with a handful of teams, including the Seahawks about a potential reunion. The 49ers, Saints, and Raiders are apparently also in the mix, but it sounds more and more like a return to Seattle is a distinct possibility. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told the media on Saturday that he had talked to Sherman “quite a few times” this offseason about coming back to where he started his career, via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com. Sherman, now 33, only played in five games last season but was a second-team All-Pro in 2019. He was with Seattle from 2011-17, making four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams as part of their legendary ‘Legion of Boom’ defenses. Sherman has said previously he’d sign after the draft, so something could materialize here soon.

Richard Sherman Has Talked With 49ers, Seahawks, Saints, Raiders

May 1st, 2021 at 9:33am CST by Ben Levine

Richard Sherman may be taking his time finding a new team, but that’s not due to a lack of interest. Speaking to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the five-time Pro Bowler revealed that he’s had talks with four teams: the 49ers, Seahawks, Saints, and Raiders (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).

None of these teams are overly surprising. Despite making it clear that he was ready to move on from San Francisco, Sherman clearly has respect for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, so it makes sense that he’s considering the team where he spent the past three years. Sherman also recently said that he’d be open to a reunion with the Seahawks, and the Seahawks could use a corner who is familiar with the defense, seeing as how they lost Shaquill Griffin to the Jaguars in free agency.

The Saints were also said to have interest in Sherman last month, though that’ll require some creative accounting given their cap situation. Also, a few days after that report, the Saints re-upped defensive back P.J. Williams on a one-year, $2.3MM deal. Sherman hasn’t been previously connected to the Raiders, but he seems like a natural fit with the city and head coach.

The Stanford product was limited to only five games this past year and recently turned 33, but he was still a second-team All-Pro in 2019. He’ll be an interesting gamble for a team, as he’s past his prime and coming off an injury-plagued year, but also played at a very high level not too long ago. The veteran has indicated that he’d like to play two more years.

Robert Saleh Wants Richard Sherman On Jets

April 18th, 2021 at 5:26pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Richard Sherman recently said he’d be open to returning to the Seahawks and Pete Carroll, but he could end up reuniting with a different head coach that he’s familiar with.

New Jets head coach Robert Saleh is interested in reuniting with Sherman in New York, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com is told. Whether or not GM Joe Douglas will sign off on such a move apparently “depends on a few factors.” Cimini notes it could hinge on what the Jets do at cornerback in the draft, which could mesh since we heard a couple of weeks ago Sherman wasn’t planning on signing before the draft.

Cimini also says that Sherman “seemingly would prefer a contending team in the West,” so it’s not clear the interest is entirely mutual. Saleh, of course, was Sherman’s defensive coordinator in San Francisco the past few seasons. Sherman spent a long time as one of the top corners in the league as part of Seattle’s legendary ‘Legion of Boom’ defenses, then signed with the 49ers in 2018.

The Stanford product was limited to only five games this past year and turned 33 last month, but he was still a second-team All-Pro in 2019. He’ll be an interesting gamble for a team, as he’s past his prime and coming off an injury-plagued year, but also played at a very high level not too long ago.

As Cimini cautions there are “a few bridges to cross before anything happens,” but it sounds like there is another very realistic suitor for Sherman on the table.

Richard Sherman To Sign After Draft?

April 7th, 2021 at 10:57am CST by Zachary Links

Richard Sherman expects his free agency to last at least a few more weeks. During a recent episode of his podcast, the veteran cornerback said that the upcoming draft – coupled with his age — has him in a holding pattern.

“Well, apparently we got to wait ’til the draft happens before anything else shakes out, because everybody has their hopes and dreams in the draft, which is understandable,” Sherman said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “You turn 33, and then it’s like, ‘We’ll wait until we get a young pup; and if we can’t get a young pup, we’ll take an old fool.’ So that’s where we’re sitting.”

Sherman recently said that he’d be open to a reunion with the Seahawks, though it’s not clear if the interest is mutual. On one hand, the Seahawks could use a corner who is familiar with the defense, seeing as how they lost Shaquill Griffin to the Jaguars in free agency. For now, they have Ahkello Witherspoon, Tre Flowers, and D.J. Reed among their CBs, but they may prefer to go younger and cheaper.

The Saints were also said to have interest in Sherman last month, though that’ll require some creative accounting given their cap situation. Also, a few days after that report, the Saints re-upped defensive back P.J. Williams on a one-year, $2.3MM deal.

Richard Sherman Open To Seahawks Return

March 24th, 2021 at 5:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Richard Sherman stands as one of the best free agents available, and the All-Pro cornerback is taking his time in his second stay on the market. Sherman is not expected to return to the 49ers, but another reunion should not be considered off the table.

The 10-year veteran corner is open to rejoining the Seahawks, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (video link). Sherman’s initial Seahawks tenure ended after he suffered an Achilles tear during the 2017 season. That preceded an offseason release. But the Seahawks have a need at the position presently.

The Seahawks lost Shaquill Griffin, their longest-tenured corner post-Sherman, to the Jaguars last week. Quinton Dunbar is also unsigned. While Seattle added Sherman San Francisco teammate Ahkello Witherspoon and still rosters Tre Flowers and D.J. Reed, the team still figures to add help at corner.

Although the Seahawks cut Sherman in 2018, Pelissero adds they are likely open to re-signing him as well. This breakup differed from the bridge-burning Earl Thomas divorce, and Sherman may have a path back to Seattle. Of course, this will all depend on how Sherman’s market shapes up.

Teams have expressed interest in Sherman, including the Saints. The Raiders may also have interest. Patrick Peterson signed a one-year, $10MM pact with the Vikings last week. A fellow 2011 draftee who has delivered All-Pro-caliber work more recently than Peterson, Sherman may be targeting this kind of money. Fellow All-Pro 2011 classmate Chris Harris signed a two-year, $17.5MM deal last year, further setting some potential price parameters for Sherman.

A three-time first-team All-Pro with the Seahawks, with whom he played seven seasons, Sherman earned second-team All-Pro acclaim in his second 49ers campaign. However, a calf injury limited the veteran defender to five games last season. Sherman, who will turn 33 next week, said he wants to play two more seasons.

New York Notes: Darnold, Giants, Sanders

March 21st, 2021 at 10:25am CST by Rory Parks

Before the legal tampering period kicked off, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com said it was more likely than not that the Jets would trade Sam Darnold, assuming that BYU QB Zach Wilson — whom the Jets would select with the No. 2 overall pick to replace Darnold — “checks the important boxes during the pre-draft process.” Cimini said at the time that there was a market for Darnold, and he named Washington, the Bears, the Seahawks, the Texans, and the 49ers as potential landing spots.

But since then, WFT signed Ryan Fitzpatrick and Chicago acquired Andy Dalton. Obviously, neither of those QBs are long-term answers, but they do at least obviate an immediate need for a signal-caller. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are moving forward with Russell Wilson, Houston may be unable to trade incumbent QB Deshaun Watson in light of the sexual abuse allegations that have been levied against him, and it’s unclear how actively San Francisco is pursuing an upgrade over Jimmy Garoppolo. As such, the Jets might not be able to trade Darnold, and it will be interesting to see if that will impact the team’s decision with respect to Zach Wilson (or any other rookie passer).

Now for more out of the Empire State:

In less exciting Jets news, the team is still looking into free agent kickers and wants to find a starting-caliber corner, as Cimini writes. The CB need will probably be filled in the draft; Cimini does not expect the club to pursue Richard Sherman, despite the obvious Sherman-Robert Saleh connection.
It might go without saying, but when the Giants agreed to a three-year, $63MM pact with DL Leonard Williams a few days ago, Williams agreed to drop his grievance concerning his 2020 franchise tag, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Williams was tagged as a defensive tackle but believed he should have received a defensive end tag, and if he had prevailed, his tag number for 2021 would have jumped to $21.4MM. Since he got a $21MM AAV on his extension, things worked out just fine for him in the end.
Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Williams — who is clearly not afraid to bet on himself — pushed for a shorter contract so that he can hit the open market again before he turns 30. Duggan says the Giants have explored restructures for 2020 signees James Bradberry and Blake Martinez, something the club may need to really push for now that it has agreed to a big-money deal for WR Kenny Golladay.
The Giants signed veteran TE Kyle Rudolph earlier this week, but his addition does not impact Evan Engram‘s status with the team, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Engram will play out the 2021 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal and hopes for a strong platform performance after struggling a bit in 2020.
These days, instead of being forced to reach out to agents to convince their clients to play in western New York, agents are the ones calling the Bills, as Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News writes. Head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane have created a winning club and a positive culture, and players around the league are taking notice and now see Buffalo as an attractive destination. While the Bills didn’t have a ton of cap space heading into this year’s free agent cycle — or many major holes to fill — they did bring in WR Emmanuel Sanders, whom they had targeted for several years. Sanders is a prime example of the changing feelings towards Buffalo, saying “[w]ho wouldn’t want to be part of it?” (via John Wawrow of the Associated Press).

Saints Interested In Richard Sherman

March 16th, 2021 at 12:54pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Saints are in a terrible cap situation, but that’s never stopped GM Mickey Loomis before. Loomis has been manipulating the cap like a madman, and he’s apparently comfortable enough in his process to still be pursuing some big name free agents.

New Orleans is “among the teams expressing interest” in Richard Sherman, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). As Pelissero points out there’s a coaching connection here, as current Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard was Sherman’s DBs coach and then later defensive coordinator in Seattle.

The Saints released fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins last week, so Sherman could theoretically slide in nicely opposite Marshon Lattimore in the secondary. Sherman and the 49ers had been appearing headed for divorce since late last season, and that was confirmed for certain last month.

Sherman will turn 33 later this month, but was a second-team All-Pro with San Francisco as recently as 2019. A calf injury cost him most of this past season, and he ended up playing in only five games. He does have somewhat of a history of lower leg injuries, but had only played in less than 14 games once prior to last year.

Either way, it doesn’t sound like his relatively advanced age is scaring that many teams away. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of deal he lands, from the Saints or whoever else.

49ers, Richard Sherman To Part Ways

February 17th, 2021 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Richard Sherman said in December that he was likely to finish his career elsewhere, barring a miraculous turn of events that could keep him in San Francisco. No miracle will occur.

The 49ers and Sherman are set to part ways soon, with Sherman becoming a free agent in March. A discussion with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch confirmed the 49ers will move on from Sherman after his three-year run with the team.

“It’s been made pretty clear,” Sherman said, via the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman, on the reality he will leave the 49ers in March. “It was a good conversation, nothing crazy. Just a good conversation about where they are and where I am, and their plans. We were both very positive and as good as you can be in a situation like this.”

After an underwhelming 2018 season, Sherman returned to his elite level in 2019 and helped the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV. One of the many 49ers to suffer a significant injury last season, Sherman played in only five games. His coverage numbers regressed, with the 32-year-old cover man allowing a 116.2 passer rating (after posting a 63.0 figure in 2019) in his limited 2020 action.

Even though he is only planning to play two more seasons, the All-Decade cornerback should generate considerable interest from contending teams. He was notably connected to the defense-needy Raiders earlier this month.

As for the 49ers, they may be starting over at corner. While Shanahan’s team still has impact front-seven defenders and Jimmie Ward returning, its cornerback contingent has Sherman, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon unsigned for 2021. The team could well opt to keep some of these players off the market, but Sherman will not be one of them.

Browns Won’t Pursue Richard Sherman

February 14th, 2021 at 3:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Richard Sherman won’t be on the Browns’ radar this offseason, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. The 49ers cornerback has familiarity with Joe Woods‘ defense, but the Browns are looking to allocate their dollars elsewhere.

Instead, the Browns are banking on a healthy Greedy Williams to hold down the fort, along with Terrance Mitchell and slot corner Kevin Johnson, if they can re-sign them. Then, they can fill out any other gaps cheaply in the draft, or go for younger corners.

Sherman, 33 in March, enjoyed a solid 2019. After tallying 61 tackles and three interceptions in 15 games, the veteran added yet another Pro Bowl nod to his resume. Then, his 2020 was sidetracked by a calf injury, limiting him to just five games.

It appears that there is some mutual interest between Sherman and the Raiders. In Las Vegas, Sherman would get to reunite with a different ex-mentor in Gus Bradley. The newly-anointed defensive coordinator guided the Seahawks’ famed Legion of Boom era, in which Sherman cemented himself as a superstar player. It’s a situation to watch, though the league office may view Jon Gruden‘s comments as tampering.