Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 best player additions for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers stops short of the endzone on a 51-yard run against Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks to run down the clock late in the fourth quarter on December 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The play set up the winning field goal as the 49ers won 19-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers stops short of the endzone on a 51-yard run against Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks to run down the clock late in the fourth quarter on December 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The play set up the winning field goal as the 49ers won 19-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 03: Injured cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks smiles from the sidelines before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field on December 3, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 03: Injured cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks smiles from the sidelines before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field on December 3, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images) /

No. 2: Cornerback Richard Sherman

Team Need: 5

Projected Role: 4.5

Traditional Stats: 4

Analytical Stats: 4

Potential Impact: 4

Cornerback was a problem area for San Francisco a year ago, outside then-rookie Ahkello Witherspoon and nickel corner K’Waun Williams, so it makes sense the 49ers took a bit of a shotgun approach to addressing the position.

In addition to a flurry of rookie pickups, the Niners elected to bring aboard Richard Sherman after the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with him this offseason.

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Sherman joins his formal rival now but will have to prove his 2017 Achilles injury is a thing of the past and he can still deliver the All-Pro-caliber play even though he’s now on the wrong side of 30 years old.

These concerns keep Sherman’s role and impact marks just slightly below 5 on our list, yet it’s easily clear the Niners envision him being a major component for their defense in 2018 and beyond.

Besides, boasting four Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro selections is good enough to create an impressive résumé at any age.

Pro Football Focus awarded Sherman an 82.7 overall grade over nine games last season, which was the lowest mark he’s received since breaking into the league back in 2011. But that grade still ranks highest out of all the 49ers cornerbacks last year, meaning it’s hard to think of this free-agent deal as anything but a massive upgrade.

Sherman also gets bonus points for his newfound mentoring role amid a very young San Francisco secondary.

Cumulative Value: 4.3