By now, you’ve all seen the podcast/video of Jon Gruden talking with Richard Sherman and Chris Collinsworth on the PFF podcast. We can debate if it’s considered “tampering” or not, but it is noteworthy considering Sherman is set to become a free agent in the next month.
It’s also important because the Raiders are transitioning over to a cover-3 defense under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Considering that he was the defensive coordinator during the Seahawks’ peak, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Raiders did have some interest in the All-Pro cornerback.
But just how good is Sherman at this point in his career and would he make sense for the Raiders in free agency? According to Pro Football Focus, he is still one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and is ranked as the second-best defensive back scheduled to hit free agency. Here is what they had to say about him in a recent article in regards to the best cornerbacks hitting the open market:
“Sherman’s only battle is against age, but he’s still the prototype for the classic Seattle cover-3 system. Injuries have limited him in recent years, but a healthy Sherman is still very productive, as evidenced by his 90.3 overall grade in 2019.”
Sherman would likely be a one-year rental for the Raiders, but this would allow Damon Arnette more time to get up to the speed of the NFL. It would also provide some high-level injury insurance and a veteran who can help usher in the new scheme.
He’s no longer the shutdown cornerback that he was earlier in his career, but Sherman can still be a high-quality starter in the right type of defense. Adding him in free agency would help solidify their cornerback room and drastically improve the overall defense. If Sherman is interested in coming to Las Vegas to play with his former coach, this seems like a no-brainer for the Raiders.
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