Richard Sherman: 3 Teams That Could Make A Trade
By Erik Lambert
The Seattle Seahawks shook up the NFL with a recent report that they would be open to hearing offers for their superstar cornerback Richard Sherman.
It’s difficult to understand why. The man is 28-years old, in his physical prime. He hasn’t missed a game his entire career and delivered four interceptions in 2016, bringing his career total to 30. It all resulted in his fourth-straight Pro Bowl. There is no indication he’s due for a sudden fall in productivity. So either the Seahawks were merely stating a casual fact most teams do or they feel his value is peaking and they won’t get greater value in a trade than now.
While the odds of it happening are slim what with a strong draft class on the approach, there may be a few teams who decide to take that plunge. Here are three worth watching.
Best equipped: Cleveland Browns
This shouldn’t be any surprise. The Browns are positively overburdened with extra draft picks thanks to their myriad of trades over the past two years. They have three 1st, and five 2nd round selections between 2017 and 2018. Adding an All-Pro corner to their secondary is an easy sell. Add in the fact that Gregg Williams is familiar with Shermans’ work, having watched him twice a year as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
Most desperate: New York Jets
The entire Jets roster has been depleted by cuts and free agency. Now the team is left scrambling to build things back up. Otherwise they’re likely to be favorites for the #1 overall pick in 2018. Todd Bowles is another former NFC West defensive coordinator who knows what Sherman can do. New York is painfully thin on credible cornerbacks to play behind their strong defensive front. They also might have an interest trade piece to offer in defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson.
Next: 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Free Agency Creates Big Trade Moves
Dark horse: Chicago Bears
GM Ryan Pace isn’t typically known for blockbuster trades. His moves are more measured and calculated. Nonetheless, the idea of putting a proven star in that Bears secondary behind a developing front seven has to sound exciting. Chicago doesn’t really have any definitive answers at cornerback. Besides Vic Fangio saw firsthand was Sherman could do as defensive coordinator in San Francisco when he eliminated the 49ers in the NFC championship four years ago.