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The Bills have had a thing for bringing in some competition at one spot in particular since Sean McDermott took over head coaching duties in 2017.
That year’s draft saw McDermott & the Bills tab cornerback Tre’Davious White as the cornerstone of their defense. The area across from him has been this area we’re referencing, though.
At the No. 2 spot for the Bills at cornerback, Levi Wallace has had the most longevity there in recent memory, but Buffalo did sign Josh Norman last offseason to a one-year deal. Then Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane tossed Dane Jackson into the equation at his end of season presser.
But in terms of adding another player, potentially a veteran like Norman, Pro Football Focus suggested a well-known name to the Bills recently: Richard Sherman.
At 32, PFF does acknowledge he’s no youthful guy anymore. However, in terms of PFF’s grading system, the football analytics mentions that they did recently peg Sherman a player that’s still very much producing:
In 2019, once fully recovered from an Achilles injury, Sherman had one of the best seasons of his entire career, allowing just 227 receiving yards all season long. He surrendered a passer rating of just 46.8 before things came unglued a little in the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. In 2020, Sherman produced a 67.2 coverage grade on just 332 snaps, the lowest grade of his career.
Sherman’s intelligence and tape study gives him a mental edge over most offenses he faces, and that more than makes up for less than stellar straight-line speed. In the kind of defense he plays in San Francisco, he can remain a valuable player even at his age and could be an attractive short-term option for a number of teams in need of a quick fix.
Considering Sherman is coming off a down year following a great 2019, the Bills might want to tread with caution. But the money also makes a difference here. PFF projects this deal for Sherman in Buffalo:
Prediction: Bills sign Sherman for two years, $28 million ($14M APY): $18M total guaranteed, $14M fully guaranteed at signing.
Hefty, for sure. But if one wants to be positive about Sherman to the Bills, the scheme helps. As a zone defense, Sherman could have better results rather than playing man coverage frequently. Plus, Sherman played on a very banged up 49ers defense this past season. A healthy Bills roster could help.
That number for a No. 2 cornerback would be a pretty large price tag for Buffalo to consider. They might opt for cheaper options considering the uncertainty surrounding the salary cap this offseason.
Still… cannot deny how exciting having White and Sherman would be as a cornerback duo.
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