Now’s the time 49ers re-sign Richard Sherman after NFL Draft

Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The 49ers still have cornerback questions after the NFL Draft, while Richard Sherman coming back could potentially provide a short-term answer.

One can only guess what the San Francisco 49ers‘ best-case plans were for the 2021 NFL Draft at cornerback.

It was clear the position was a priority. After all, the Niners added two corners during the draft, Michigan’s Ambry Thomas and Oregon’s Deommodore Lenoir, in Rounds 3 and 5, respectively. Yet those mid-round adds don’t necessarily suggest they’ll be long-term fixtures for the team in the coming years.

Or even high-quality backups in 2021.

San Francisco still has the kind of questions at the position where a reunion with its former cornerback the last three years, five-time Pro Bowler Richard Sherman, should be entertained.

True, Sherman just turned 33 years old and is no longer the lockdown dominant player he once was during his heyday. But even though injuries curtailed Sherman’s 2020 campaign, he’s not overly far removed from his last Pro Bowl season, 2019, and one could rationally figure he’d offer the kind of experience the 49ers would need to help develop their young defensive backs anyway.

49ers have both financial and roster room for Richard Sherman

It’s anyone’s guess what Sherman’s asking price would be, and it makes sense for him to wait until after the NFL Draft to engage in any contract talks. He represents himself after all.

Currently, according to Over the Cap, the Niners have just over $18 million in cap space. Perhaps only the first three or four draft picks’ rookie contracts will count against the top-51 cutoff, but let’s assume that eats up approximately $5 million.

Sherman certainly won’t come anywhere close to commanding the near-$14 million earned last season. But if he’s willing to bank on himself one last time, not unlike another corner on San Francisco’s roster, Jason Verrett, a one-year deal somewhere in the range of $5 million wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.

Verrett and fellow corner Emmanuel Moseley appear to be the favorites to start on the boundary for the 49ers this season. Yet Verrett’s lengthy injury history and Moseley’s regular transitions between the reserves and starting lineup prompt the idea there’d be room to entertain Sherman reassuming his starting role.

49ers ‘will never rule’ Richard Sherman out

At least on the surface, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are entertaining the idea of bringing Sherman back.

Speaking to reporters on day two of the NFL Draft, both Lynch and Shanahan said there weren’t any sort of ongoing negotiations about a new deal. But neither the GM or head coach ruled out a reunion either.

Shanahan said:

"I know Sherm’s probably going to want to go to a contender just knowing him and how competitive he is. He’ll sit back and be smart and make the right decision for himself. But, when you’ve got a guy that you trust and care about and you also know how competitive he is, we will never rule him out."

It’s not totally clear what the Niners’ role would be for Sherman if he’s somehow re-signed. Last year, despite dealing with calf injuries, Sherman spent time at strong safety, and it’s possible San Francisco could use him in a similar role despite re-signing Jaquiski Tartt to a one-year deal this offseason.

Or the 49ers could bank on one more fully healthy year at cornerback from Sherman, too.

More importantly, perhaps, Sherman could help ease the transition from former defensive coordinator and now-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh to the Niners’ new defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans. And much like Sherman did with other corners on the roster, such as Moseley and now-Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, the senior veteran could act as a new mentor for San Francisco’s newest defensive backs, Thomas and Lenoir.

The Jets, Seattle Seahawks and even the New Orleans Saints have been linked to Sherman as a possible NFL free agency add after the draft. But as Shanahan mentioned, the 49ers are the lone team out of that group with the best chance to make a deep playoff push. New York is in rebuild mode, and so are the Saints after watching quarterback Drew Brees retire. Seattle is a playoff team, although its Super Bowl hopes probably end no later than a divisional round.

So, if Sherman wants one final ring, his best chance might be with the Niners, too.

And San Francisco should entertain him if the cost is right.

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