There are still some quality free agents around the NFL, and the most accomplished one has to be former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro and member of the NFL's 2010 All-Decade Team who will also be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame eventually. SportsLine offers NFL odds on which team will sign the 33-year-old.
Sherman spent his first seven seasons as a member of the famed "Legion of Boom" secondary in Seattle and then the past three seasons with San Francisco – he was limited to just five games a year ago. Sherman isn't a Pro Bowl-caliber player these days but remains a viable starter. He might gain some leverage if a contender has one of its top cornerbacks go down injured early in training camp. Sherman has made it clear he wants to compete for a Super Bowl.
"I want to get to a team that's competing for a championship, so that's what I'm focused on and waiting for a right opportunity," Sherman said recently. "When it comes, that's where I'll be."
Over the weekend, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Sherman going back to Seattle is very possible. When asked about that possibility in May, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said: "We're always open. I've talked to Sherm quite a few times over the offseason. We have stayed in contact. He's out there and I know he's thinking about it. He's looking for an opportunity."
Seattle lost two cornerbacks in free agency in Shaquill Griffin (Jaguars) and Quinton Dunbar (Lions). Fowler also noted that Sherman would prefer to stay on the West Coast and still has a home in Seattle. It was no secret, though, that Sherman and Seahawks star QB Russell Wilson didn't have the best relationship.
The Niners haven't ruled out brining Sherman back, but they seem set in the secondary after re-signing Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, K'Waun Williams and Jaquiski Tartt to short-term deals.
Sherman has a tie to the New Orleans Saints, who should be contenders even with Drew Brees' retirement. Kris Richards is the team's defensive backs coach and previously held that role with the Seahawks. Sherman could potentially slot in as a starter opposite Marshon Lattimore ahead of CJ Gardner-Johnson. For now, the Saints are trying to get safety Marcus Williams signed to an extension; he was slapped with the franchise tag and the team has until July 15 to agree on a long-term deal with Williams. Lattimore is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
The Dallas Cowboys also should be contenders -- despite a terrible 2020 season, they are NFC East favorites -- and their new defensive coordinator is Dan Quinn, who was the former DC in Seattle. CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan recently wrote a story projecting that Sherman lands in Dallas.
Sherman loved playing for Robert Saleh in San Francisco as Saleh was the DC there. He's now the head coach of the New York Jets, but if Sherman wants to play for a 2021 contender that would seemingly rule out Gang Green.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden publicly courted Sherman back in early February during a podcast interview with Cris Collinsworth almost to the point of tampering, but Las Vegas never did pursue him. Yet.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will Richard Sherman be playing for Week 1 of this season?
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