Following persistent chatter surrounding the Seattle Seahawks leaning toward parting ways with All-Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman, the team decided to pull the trigger on Friday after seven seasons. It has immediately placed him on the open market ahead of the start of free agency next week.
This has made him one of the top available cornerbacks in the league, and he should have a plethora of teams scrambling to acquire his services. According to Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network, Sherman has made it clear that he's looking to join an established team that has a great player under center in place.
There are several teams that could fit this description, with the New England Patriots likely at the top of the list. There were previous reports that the Patriots voiced interest in acquiring the 29-year-old, but nothing truly came about from the trade discussion. Instead, the Seahawks are electing to take a $2.2 million hit in dead cash to move on from Sherman in the final year of his four-year, $56 million where he was slated to make $13.2 million.
He could also give some serious consideration to the two teams currently located in the bay area in the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. Both franchises need to address their secondaries, especially at cornerback, and they possess promising star quarterbacks in Jimmy Garopollo and Derek Carr. The 49ers could hold the edge over the Raiders, as they currently possess just over $70 million in salary cap space that should allow for them to present Sherman with a lucrative offer.
Through Sherman's first seven seasons in the league, he established himself as one of the premier players at his position in the league. The Stanford product has earned four Pro Bowl selections, three First-Team All-Pro nods, and a Second-Team All-Pro selection.
However, there is some concern with his health, as he suffered a torn Achilles tendon back last November. This shouldn't hinder the market much for his services next season, as he will be a much-wanted commodity in free agency.