The rebuilding San Francisco 49ers have signed veterans to help run their new schemes. The team needs to add Seattle's Richard Sherman to do just that.
The San Francisco 49ers are in full rebuild mode. Since the new regime took over, team general manager John Lynch and head Kyle Shanahan have built a roster of mostly young players. However, they have signed critical veterans that have experience either playing in head coach Shanahan's complicated offensive system or in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's defensive scheme.
Players like veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer and wide receiver Pierre Garçon are well versed in Shanahan's offense. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Malcolm Smith has played in the same defense that Saleh looks to deploy on Sundays.
Hoyer and Garçon are expected to start come Week 1 and Smith will be in contention for a starter's role. Much of that will depend on first-round selection Reuben Foster's health. If Foster is healthy, expect Foster to start and Smith to play as the primary backup.
Nonetheless, whether Hoyer, Garçon or Smith start or not, another supremely important role they play is teaching the youngsters the ins-and-outs of the new schemes. This is exactly why the San Francisco 49ers should look at rival Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman as a trade target.
San Francisco 49ers
Oct 2, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) intercepts a pass in front of New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks defeat the New York Jets 27-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Scheme Fit
Most 49ers free agent veterans were signed specifically because of their knowledge of the offensive and defensive schemes. Well, Sherman plays in the original Seattle Cover-3, which is the same coverage that defensive coordinator Saleh looks to field with the 49ers.
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The 49ers have two young, promising cornerbacks in Rashard Robinson and third-round rookie Ahkello Witherspoon. Robinson, a second-year veteran, had an excellent year in 2016. In fact, he was one of the few bright spots on a woeful 49ers defense. He seems set to start at one of the two outside corner spots.
The other spot is more up in the air. Witherspoon displayed incredible coverage skills in college, but still has room to improve — most notably in defending the run. Bringing in four-time Pro-Bowler Richard Sherman to help teach young Witherspoon will help the team in the long run. What's more, it would help to stabilize the defense as they experience a change in scheme in the short-term.
San Francisco 49ers
Jan 3, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tackles Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) in the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Cap Space
Heading into 2017, Sherman has two years remaining on his four-year, $56 million contract that he signed with rival Seattle Seahawks. In 2017, Sherman is owed a base salary of $11,431,000, while carrying a cap hit of $13,631,000 and a dead cap value of $9,400,000 per Spotrac.
The 49ers have the cap space to take on Sherman's contract for the remaining two years with just over $67 million according to Spotrac. Sherman will be 29 years old in 2017. By the time his contract is over, the 49ers can move on while getting some good years from one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
Trading for Sherman would not be as prohibitive as many might believe. In 2013, the Red and Gold acquired a highly-productive wide receiver by the name of Anquan Boldin. Boldin had just defeated the 49ers in the Super Bowl a month earlier but that didn't stop the team from seeking a trade.
At the time, Boldin was 33 years young, had a salary cap figure of $7.5 million, according to ESPN. A recent trade that included the Seahawks sent formerly-retired running back Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch to Oakland Raiders for a fifth-round pick in 2018 per Fox Sports. Using the Lynch trade as template, the team could acquire Sherman from Seattle for a fifth-round pick in 2018.
San Francisco 49ers
Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tips the ball against San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) for an interception by Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Talent and Development
Former 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis credits former 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes for a lot of his professional development. In fact, Willis stated that Spikes helped "calm him down" and "helped to find himself" as reported by The Daily Journal. Willis was a gridiron legend, but what if he never had Spikes as his mentor? The 49ers have two young studs who would benefit from mentorship. Sherman should be that mentor.
Sherman has seen it all. He has played in the biggest games and shined the brightest when it counted the most. Not to mention he is a Super Bowl champion. He is a veteran of those hard fought 49ers-Seahawks battles.
There are few remaining on the 49ers roster who can bring that level of intensity. The picture above is a painful reminder of a 49ers playoff loss. However, it is also a testament to Sherman's skill and confidence as a pass defender. Will Sherman be a long-term answer? No. Still, the cost of getting him will be well worth it considering Robinson's and Witherspoon's development.
Considering the immediate and long-term impact, 49ers brass should bring in the Stanford standout to Santa Clara.
