Eagles

Are The Eagles Potential Suitors for Richard Sherman?

By Kyle Scott

Published: Apr 10th, 2017 · 1:12 PM EDT

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Our old friend Sheil Kapadia, now covering the Seahawks for ESPN.com, writes about potential trade suitors for Richard Sherman, which are basically half the teams in the league.

Sherman may have lost a step, but he’s still, as Kapadia notes, a “premier” corner. It seems he is behind trade talks more than Pete Carroll, who was likely irked by Sherman’s sideline outbursts last year, particularly the one that questioned Carroll’s continued insistence on throwing from the one-yard line. But OH THEM SEAHAWKS, right? Everyone lauded the Sherman blowups as Seattle being Seattle and remarked how Carroll fosters that sort of at-your-throat camaraderie (so does Kobe Bryant, for that matter). So it seems odd, if you believe that narrative, that the Seahawks would be open to trading Sherman.

Anyway, where does the Eagles’ interest fall? Sheil’s old partner, Tim McManus – the Rust and Marty of Birds 24/7 coverage (respect) – writes:

There are several factors, though, that stand in the way of an Eagles-Sherman union. A big one is money. Per the NFLPA, the Eagles have under $2 million in salary cap space at the moment. That’s a rather large issue, considering Sherman is set to make $11.4 million this season. (He’s under contract for two more years, with a base salary of $11 million in 2018). Even if you package a player or two (Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks is on the block and would offer close two $2 million in relief, for example) or try to restructure Sherman’s contract, it would be very difficult to make the math work, even for a front office that is very gifted at doing just that.

It’s also true that the Eagles have publicly stated that they want to take the long view when it comes to this build. They would have to give up a pretty valuable pick or two, you would imagine, to take on a 29-year-old who is under contract for two more seasons at big money. From that perspective, such a move doesn’t seem to mesh with their current desire to build a young core around quarterback Carson Wentz.

I’d love to have Sherman, but what’s the point? The Eagles probably aren’t contenders the next two years. Then again, with Sherman, a decent draft pick or two, and a running back that falls out of the sky (they do that), maybe the Eagles could contend in a year. Still, trading away a first round pick (in Philly!) for a cornerback already in his prime feels like the most Howie Roseman thing ever, and, you know, like every other high-profile defensive back acquisition the Eagles have made over the past few years. I would almost expect Sherman to come here, deal with nagging injuries the Seahawks never disclosed, and then go off the reservation and start doing sit-ups in his driveway. If there’s a good barometer on player evaluations, it’s don’t take the guys Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll don’t want, and do re-sign the guys they express interest in. The mere notion that Carroll is apparently open to trading Sherman tells me he’s just looking for a mark like Howie to bite the bullet. Sure, we’ll take a first round pick for Richard Sherman. He’s totally not injured and crazy and currently yelling at an Erin Andrews Fathead. Nope. Not at all!

Don’t do it, Howie. Don’t do it.