The 2021 NFL free agency period will be full of big names and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman figures to be one of the bigger defensive players available come March.

Sherman played the past three seasons in Northern California, but it seems as though his time in a 49ers uniform will come to an end. The Niners face a ton of questions regarding their cap, and Sherman's asking price is most likely more than what John Lynch wants to pay.

Sherman is still a serviceable corner despite only playing in a handful of games due to missing much of the 2020 campaign with an injury, and he could provide secondary help and veteran leadership to many teams throughout the league.

The five-time Pro Bowler still has a lot to offer as a player, and even more as a mentor and teacher, and can help shape the corners coming into the league.

Just a few years removed from that dangerous “Legion of Boom” defense, Sherman is set to hit the open market once again and should have a variety of different suitors calling for his services.

While just about every team in the league could benefit from adding him, let's examine the three best options to bring in Sherman.

3. Seattle Seahawks

A reunion for Sherman and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll makes sense for both sides, and everybody knows that the Seattle defense isn't what they were a few years ago.

One of Sherman's biggest influences going forward would be his ability to mentor and teach, and the Seahawks would absolutely love that. They will face free agency decisions of their own with Quinton Dunbar, Neiko Thorpe, and Shaquill Griffin all set to hit free agency this offseason, and the cap space isn't too promising in the Pacific Northwest.

The Seahawks have a good roster as is, and adding a guy like Sherman might be possible, especially if he decides to take a discount to join his former squad. Seattle will more than likely take a corner in the upcoming draft, and Sherman would have the ability to groom the rookie and show him the ways to play the position in the league for years to come.

For Seattle, adding a veteran and playmaker to this defense is essential, as the defensive unit struggled mightily in 2020 as they got bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

After all, Richard Sherman and the 49ers are just one year removed from the Super Bowl, and his legacy with Seattle will always be remembered and would be a huge boost for the fanbase.

2. Los Angeles Chargers

This might be surprising, but when you think about it, it makes sense for both sides of the equation.

The Chargers just hired Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley to be their new head coach after he led the Rams to the No. 1 overall defense in the NFL in 2020.

Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr. aren't the players they once were, and the cap hit with Hayward is going to be something to monitor and a possible cut the Chargers make to free up some salary.

Staley would love to have his hands on a guy like Sherman, and if he wants another trip to the Super Bowl the Chargers really aren't that far off, especially with the surprising emergence of quarterback Justin Herbert.

The Chargers have a decent amount of cap space and could shore up their secondary with Sherman, adding even more to an already loaded defense that included Joey Bosa and Derwin James.

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1. New York Jets

This seems like the obvious choice for a million reasons. The Jets have the cap space to pay him big money, he can mentor and guide the young players coming in, and new head coach Robert Saleh was his defensive coordinator in San Francisco.

The Jets had a forgettable 2020-21, and a forgettable past few seasons for that matter, but their time to rebuild is here. They hold the No. 2 overall pick, got a new head coach, have cap space, and have been linked to a potential trade for Deshaun Watson.

All of that is exciting, and Sherman loves playing for Saleh, so this might be an extremely easy fit for both sides. He raved on and on about Saleh, and wouldn't think twice about playing for him again if given the opportunity.

A new era in Jets land is set to take place, and who better to guide the future stars of this defense than Richard Sherman?