The San Francisco 49ers haven’t made any exotic moves outside of the signing of Charvarius Ward in free agency, but they remain confident in handing the keys to Trey Lance with a very similar roster from 2021. At the moment, Kyle Shanahan has been creating new play designs with his offensive toys, re-signing under-the-radar players like Jeff Wilson and Jordan Willis, and looking for the best trade partner with Jimmy Garoppolo.

I still expect the 49ers to make a few quality free agent moves in the wild NFC West. I’d like to see them add a talented edge rusher before the draft. The edge rusher Everson Griffin (5 sacks in 2021) and the DT/DE Calais Campbell would be fascinating fits for SF.

There hasn’t been a lot of new speculation around mutual interest between Stephon Gilmore and the 49ers as of late. Although, it appeared that the 49ers were the most logical landing spot for him at one point. Richard Sherman and many football outlets believed he would head to San Francisco. He could still surprise the NFL world by viewing his current options and then deciding to head to the Bay area on a contract that’s slightly below his market value (assuming the 49ers don’t overpay for him).

There is a darkhorse candidate to ink with the 49ers in my opinion. It would be intriguing and logical if the former Chiefs All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu signed with the 49ers at this odd stage in free agency. He has 13 interceptions in the past few seasons combined. Heavy. outlined out the 49ers should reel in the Honey Badger in January, as well. If the 49ers do make a splash-free agent move before they announce their 2022 first-round pick, it will likely be in the secondary.

The post San Francisco 49ers free agency rumors appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The San Francisco 49ers were defeated by their archnemesis in the Los Angeles Rams in the recent NFC Championship matchup. The 49ers faithful may want to sacrifice Jimmy G for not being Joe Montana, but they had other weaknesses on their team.

Their defense might feature Nick Bosa (15.5 sacks in 2021), but they don’t carry a top-notch cornerback that can match the likes of Cooper Kupp. The 2021 NFL Offensive Player of The Year had his best performance in the playoffs against the 49ers with 14 receptions, 142 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Thr 49ers 2021 rookie CB Ambry Thomas improved throughout the season, but the Championship aimed team might look to upgrade the CB spot in the near future. Their veteran CB Jason Verrett is a free agent and it doesn’t seem like he can be relied on, as he’s played 1 game in two of the past three seasons for the 49ers. So, could the 49ers look to reel in a big-name CB in the near free agency period? Well, here are a few profiles that could impress John Lynch.

• Stephon Gilmore

I know Stephon Gilmore might be an easy, boring pick, but Gilmore has a good chance to land with the 49ers. The former 49ers Pro Bowl CB Richard Sherman sees Gilmore signing with the 49ers. I trust Sherman’s opinion more than any other player or analyst on the Gilmore situation. Forbes also recently put out a piece on why Gilmore needs to be secured by Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.

• Casey Hayward

The idea of SF signing Casey Hayward might seem like they are latching on to another washed-up CB. Hayward isn’t the old ball-hawk he was before, but he is a quality CB and a better aging CB than Josh Norman by a country mile. If the 49ers can’t sign Gilmore, I would expect them to turn their interest to the former Chargers CB. I would be surprised if he chose the Raiders over the 49ers if Lynch offered him a modest contract.

• Richard Sherman

The 49ers could look at bringing back Sherman for a couple of different reasons. He has familiarity with the 49ers defense and he wants another Super Bowl ring. If SF isn’t aggressive for a CB early in free agency, they could potentially sign Sherman around the NFL Draft or training camp. He might not start over Thomas, but he might even be interested in being the third CB on a talented, former squad.

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The Seattle Seahawks legendary safety Kam Chancellor retired in the 2018 offseason, but his presence has been deeply missed. Chancellor’s unique style of play hasn’t been matched by any current player in the league since he retired. Here is a sneak peek at the unique ability of Chancellor.

Kam’s style of play revolves around laying big hits on opposing players while making interceptions and causing turnovers. I would also feel comfortable saying that Kam is one of the hardest-hitting safeties in all of NFL history. I would say Sean Taylor and Chancellor should be in the same conversation when it comes to hitting ability.

With this enunciated, let’s take a trip to reminisce on the journey of the Seahawks legendary safety. The NFL world is familiar with the “Legion of Boom” and Richard Sherman’s takes are spread like wildfire around social media. Yet, the Seahawks fierce and unique safety Kam Chancellor is slightly in the shadow. So, let’s see what the story of Chancellor reveals.

Bam Bam Kam has played in eight seasons in the professional football league. He entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Virginia Tech in the 2010 NFL Draft. Many draft analysts pegged Kam as a “project player”, but it didn’t really take long for him to make his mark in the league. In his second season, he punched a ticket to the Pro Bowl. He actually recorded a career-high four interceptions and personal best 13 pass deflections in 2011.

In 2013, Kam helped his team reach the Super Bowl and edge out the mighty Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos squad. Chancellor had a memorable hit against Demaryius Thomas early in the Super Bowl contest, which helped the Seahawks set the tone on defense. The Seahawks would of course win the Super Bowl contest against the Broncos and Malcolm Smith would win MVP. Smith may have won the MVP of the big showdown, but the LOB largely helped the Seahawks defeat the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and Broncos in the post-season.

Chancellor made three straight Pro Bowls in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Kam was also voted as the 32nd best player in the Top 100 players list from the 2015 season. The bold safety had a very productive season in 2016, but it wasn’t enough to garner a spot in the Pro Bowl.

Chancellor would play his last season in 2017 and it didn’t end with him riding off into the sunset. Unfortunately, the Seahawks safety suffered a neck injury and he had to sit out the rest of the season. The Seahawks SS would of course retire in the offseason following the 2017 season.

Chancellor could be remembered for being the most fearless defender on the Legion of Boom and the most exciting profiles to watch in all of NFL history. Chancellor has kept busy as a golfer and family man in his days after football. Kam will likely go into the Seahawks ring of honor soon, but I don’t expect him to be an NFL Hall of Famer due to his short career and zero All-Pro honors. His mouth-watering highlights and production on the Hawks will still help him be cemented as one of the most mythical defensive players in NFL history.

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The Minnesota Vikings desperately need more playmakers in their secondary. The Vikings ranked 28th in passing yards per game allowed last season. It’s clear that the 33-year-old Harrison Smith can’t solve all their pain in defending the pass. Smith was a force with three sacks and a career-high 114 tackles last season, but they need more studs in zone coverage and man-to-man coverage.

The Vikings top corner Patrick Peterson is also a free agent in 2022 and it’s unclear if they will bring back Peterson. If they bring him back, It would still be ideal if they add a veteran cornerback on a cheaper deal. If they don’t bring back Peterson, they could replace PP with a potentially more talented veteran CB. The Vikings need to get flat out more productive on defense, but particularly in their secondary.

It would make sense for the Vikings to pursue established cornerbacks in free agency, especially when they have great chemistry on offense with Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and the Top 5 WR Justin Jefferson. So, the question is: which cornerbacks could the Vikings pursue in 2022? Well, here are a few options that make a ton of sense.

Stephon Gilmore

The Minnesota Vikings were once the top trade destination for Stephon Gilmore. They can still have their chance to ink Gilmore in 2022. I believe Gilmore is slightly more talented than Peterson at this stage and they should prioritize him over Peterson. I don’t expect the Vikings to strike for gold with J.C. Jackson (and they really shouldn’t) or bring pack PP, but they should be aggressive at the CB spot with Gilmore on a short-term deal (three-four years). The former Defensive Player of The Year and introvert would be the star in the secondary and he could join a team that’s seeking to wreak havoc in the NFC playoffs.

Sidney Jones

The former Washington Husky has the potential to be a very nice value pickup by Minny. Sidney Jones had two interceptions in 2019 (12 games) and two picks in 2020 (9 games), but I expect his best production is ahead of him. He may be looking to prove himself on a one-year deal and the cap-strapped Vikings could look for a talented CB on the cheaper side of things. If Jones shines in 2022, they can sign the 25-year-old to a long-term contract in the 2023 off-season.

Richard Sherman

The former Stanford WR Richard Sherman may not be the sexiest free-agent target at this stage in his career, but he could be available to the CB-needy Vikings late in the free-agent period. It’s worth noting that Sherman made plays with the Bucs last season and he made the Pro Bowl not too long ago (2019).

I expect Sherman to weigh his options and aim to sign with a talented team with a strong fit for him. I don’t see the top AFC and NFC teams spamming his phone for meetings over dinner, but the talented Vikings with their aching secondary could fit in well with him. Sherman could get in shape with the Vikings during training camp and he could be a quality CB2 on the playoff-hopeful Vikings team.

Jason Verrett

The injury-riddled 49ers cornerback and former first-round pick Jason Verrett has the potential to be a star, but he’s very often injured. Verrett has played only one game in three of the past four seasons. He will surely need to take a prove-it deal with a new team this offseason.

The Vikings could still keep in touch with his agent and scoop him up late in the process. Perhaps, Verrett is due for at least several games of play in 2022. His efforts could prove vital against Aaron Rodgers and other key NFC contenders late in the season. Verrett, who is 5’9, was once the best CB per play over 2014 and 2015.

P.J. Williams

Pro Football Focus nicely stated that P.J. Williams was the Saints most improved player in 2021. Williams, who once projected to be a first-round pick, made big plays (pick-6 against Tom Brady) and laid enormous hits against opposing WRs (such as Chris Godwin).

Williams could be a nice hybrid safety/cornerback addition for the Vikings team that needs talent and versatility in their secondary. Williams is under the radar, which could fit perfectly into the Vikings hands. Williams had a career-high 3 interceptions, career-high 2 sacks, and a career-high 4 QB hits last season.

Honorable mention

J.C. Jackson

It’s not clear where J.C. Jackson will sign in free agency, but it doesn’t appear he will reunite with the Pats. The Vikings are cap-strapped, but they could open up money (Cousins’s or Harrison Smith’s contract?) and lobby hard for the top free-agent CB. There are high-end NFL teams with more money than Vikings like the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Las Vegas Raiders.

Jackson ousted 8 interceptions last season and 9 interceptions in 2020. It’s obvious that Jackson will look to continue pushing for a Hall of Fame career on a quality team. Jackson would bring a huge boost to the Vikings defense and he would really help the Vikings become a key NFC contender in 2021.

Joe Haden

If the Vikings let PP walk out the door, they could replace him with a talented, cheaper CB in Joe Haden. The former Brown and Steelers CB made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and he has 7 interceptions, 35 pass deflections, and he has 155 combined tackles over the past three seasons. The Steelers could let Haden walk and retool their defense with younger studs, too.

Haden isn’t young (32 years old), but he can still play at a high level with the Vikings in 2022 and potentially 2023. Janoris Jenkins was a contributor at 33 years old for the AFC’s one seed in the Titans last season. Trust in Haden being effective for the Vikings in a short-term push for a playoff berth.

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By: Jake Rajala

Bill Belichick had a losing season in 2020 for the first time since 2000. It didn’t take long for the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach to raise his team from the ashes.

The New England Patriots had an impressive 2021 season, as they went 10-7 with the rookie quarterback Mac Jones. The Pats QB threw 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and ousted a 67.6% completion percentage (second-best completion percentage ever for a rookie). The Pats also made a trip to the playoffs, but they didn’t finish on a good note, as they lost to the Buffalo Bills in the wildcard round.

Bill Belichick saw Tom Brady win a Super Bowl out of his palace, so he’s still looking for his SB ring without TB12. Belichick will surely look to take the Pats upwards in 2022. The Pats HC and GM will look to free agency to help Mac Jones and his prized defense. So, who will attract the Patriots attention this offseason? Well, here are a few golden choices for the AFC competitors.

Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin might be a very shiny free agent, but the marriage between Godwin and Mac Jones makes a ton of sense. Godwin would get to play with an ascending, competitive team and be the focal point of the Pats offense. Nelson Agholor hasn’t been the free-agent signing they wished for (473 yards, 3 touchdowns). He also is a potential roster cut, as he signed a 2-year, 24-million dollar deal in the 2021 offseason.

Godwin is still in the prime of his career and it seems unlikely he will return to the Tom Brady-less Buccaneers. The Bucs slot WR has two seasons of 1,100+ yards and 5+ touchdowns in the past four years. Godwin is worth the money for the Pats team that will need to go blow for blow with Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen.

Sheldon Richardson

The former first-round pick could be a nice fit for the Pats defensive line in New England. Sheldon Richardson has 7 sacks and 23 QB hits in the last two seasons combined. Richardson could be the value signing that Belichick is looking for, as he can be a force in the run and pass game. He won’t require a salary that a defensive lineman like Akiem Hicks would attract.

The Pats gave up the 11th most rushing yards in the 2021 season. Christian Barmore and Davon Godchauk are quality run pluggers, but they could benefit from more pass rush on the inside. The two IDL combined for 2.5 sacks in 2021. Even a run-stopping defensive lineman like Vince Wilfork doesn’t prevent the need for a quality pass rush from the middle.

Richard Sherman

The former Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion could be fascinated by Bill Belichick’s persona and the Pats could be intrigued by his talent at their CB need position. Sherman is 33 years old, but that didn’t stop him from joining the hungry Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. Sherman could switch from Brady to Belichick in a short span.

Out of all the playoff teams, I believe the Pats are the best fit for the former Stanford CB. I expect him to wait for the right fit, as well. He will want to play for a Super Bowl ring and the Patriots can be his next destination. He was a Pro Bowl CB in 2019 and he was making plays before his injury last season. The Pats may not sign him early or in the middle of free agency, but I believe they could agree to a deal before training camp.

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By Chris Moore (Twitter: @fantasy_moore)

Heading into the 2021 offseason, Richard Sherman was viewed as one of the better veterans available in free agency. Many expected Sherman to return to the 49ers. But so far, that hasn’t been the case. Sherman has yet to sign with a new team in the 2021 season, but with multiple teams in the NFL dealing with injuries to their secondaries, we should expect Sherman to be getting a call very soon. At the time of writing this article, Sherman is visiting the Buccaneers. Let’s get into the top three fits for Richard Sherman.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Like I stated earlier in the article, Sherman is currently visiting the Buccaneers for a workout. The Buccaneers make a ton of sense for Sherman. They are a Super Bowl contending team that needs cornerbacks right now. The Bucs lost one of their starting cornerbacks in Sean Murphy-Bunting to a dislocated elbow in Week 1. In Week 3, one of their other starters Jamel Dean, left the game Sunday in the first quarter and never returned. The Bucs’ secondary is decimated right now, and if they want to return to the Super Bowl, adding to this beat-up secondary is a must. Sherman would fill a need for the team at the moment.

San Francisco 49ers

Just like the Buccaneers, the 49ers are also beat up in the secondary. The 49ers lost star cornerback Jason Verrett in Week 1 due to a torn ACL. With Verrett set to miss the remainder of the season, the 49ers need some help in the secondary. They tried bringing in veteran cornerback Josh Norman before the season started, but Norman has suffered a bruised lung injury against the Packers, and his status is unknown. The 49ers need some reinforcements in the secondary if they want to have any chance of slowing down any of the top NFC contenders. In comes Sherman. Why not bring back one of your starting cornerbacks from last season? Sherman knows the 49ers system very well, and with the 49ers leaning on their young cornerbacks in Deommodore Lenoir and Emmanuel Moseley, Sherman would provide experience and leadership. A return to the Bay may be in store for Sherman.

Seattle Seahawks

I don’t think we can rule out a potential homecoming for Sherman and Seattle. Sherman has always said he’s open for a return, and I think Seattle could be interested. The Seahawks currently give up the seventh-most passing yards in the league so far, and their secondary has had trouble against the pass. A potential reunion with Sherman could help their secondary. Seattle lost one of their starting cornerbacks, Shaquill Griffin, in free agency, and they currently don’t have great depth at the position. If Seattle wants to be competitive in their division, they need to fix up their secondary. Maybe a call to Sherman is how they start fixing it. We could see a potential return to Seattle in the future.

The post Top 3 Fits for Richard Sherman appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Noah Nichols

The Cleveland Browns entered into the 2021 NFL draft clearly lacking at the cornerback position. They had the 27th worst passing defense in the NFL in 2020. Quarterbacks averaged 265 yards a game against the Browns. Only five teams were worse in 2020. The Browns knew that something needed to change in their secondary, specifically at cornerback. As a result, they selected Greg Newsome II in the first round. They also signed former Los Angles Rams cornerback Troy Hill. Both these moves are indicative of two things.

One, that the Browns knew there was a problem- and addressed it. They could not ignore the horrible pass defense that their team consistently put up in 2020. Aside from Denzel Ward, there were questions about if the rest of the secondary even belonged in the NFL. Those questions have more merit than you might think. A.J. Green, Kevin Johnson, Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph, and Sheldrick Redwine were all starters in 2020 for the Browns. Only Sendejo and Joseph were supposed to start in 2020, and none of those players are starting in 2021 for the Browns.

Two, the Browns have lost faith in Greedy Williams and have lowered their expectations of Grant Delpit. Williams played zero games for the Browns in 2020 and twelve games in 2019. He has only two pass deflections to his name, and injuries seem to be derailing his career. The Browns are ready to move on, or replace him with someone else. Delpit has yet to play a snap in the NFL after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in training camp last year.

This opens the door for two things, players with availability, and players with experience. That’s where Richard Sherman comes in.

The Browns could sign Sherman to be a veteran backup/starter in case someone gets injured, and the Browns would not be forced to start someone who has never played a game. The problem that the Browns might be worried about with Sherman is his availability. He has not played a full season since 2016, though he was close to doing so in 2018 and 2019. However, if the Browns sign Sherman, he won’t be a starter, at least not right away. He would be the third or fourth cornerback, and could play more zone, where he excels.

Because he would not be the starter, the Browns would not be hit too hard when/if he was injured. They would be able to play Williams behind him, and would not see a huge difference in play. Sherman would bring experience to the cornerback position and would not have to be a starter, perfect for a player getting up there in age.

So, why should the Browns sign Sherman? A few reasons. First, Sherman is expecting courters at this point in free agency. As he stated in an interview, Sherman knows that teams would wait to sign him until after the draft. “Well, apparently we got to wait ’til the draft happens before anything else shakes out, because everybody has their hopes and dreams in the draft, which is understandable,” Sherman said, via Matt Maiocco of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “You turn 33, and then it’s like, ‘We’ll wait until we get a young pup; and if we can’t get a young pup, we’ll take an old fool.’ So that’s where we’re sitting.”

The “old fool,” has bid his time, and now it’s up. The draft is over, and now the Browns know what they have. They can add Sherman for cheap, with interest in the aging corner seeming to die down. They are a contender for the Super Bowl, something that Sherman made clear that he was looking for in the next team that he would sign with. And if the Browns sign him now, it prevents him from becoming more expensive in the future.

Sherman would be able to drive up the price if another injury were to happen in camp, because the Browns would not have many other options, if they wanted an experienced cornerback. Signing Sherman now would ensure that the Browns would have depth at cornerback- something that teams never can get enough of.

Critics will point out that the Browns already have depth at the position. They will argue that the addition of Hill and Newsome will be more than enough, and there is no need for added depth. However, the Browns have clearly had problems keeping their players healthy in the secondary over the past two years. And with a 17-game schedule, there is even more room for injury. Another player does not hurt, especially when it’s someone with the presence of Sherman.

The final thing that Sherman brings is fire to the position. He would inspire the Browns secondary to play with swagger and pride. The Browns defense would not only get better, but they would know and act like they were better. That swagger plays with the minds of opponents, and helps players believe in themselves.

Denzel Ward believes that the secondary can be great. “I think we can be dominant,” Ward, a four-year veteran, said Tuesday on the first day of minicamp. “You can never have enough corners, and all of those guys can play and they’ve shown that. So everybody has to come out here and compete and do our job, and everything else will take care of itself.”

Sherman would only build upon that mindset and belief. And if the Browns really want that mindset, then they should sign Sherman. He would only improve an already-improved defense. But they better do it soon, before someone else does.

The post Why the Browns should sign Richard Sherman right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Brady Atkins

Decades can feel like eternities in the context of professional sports– but it was not long ago when the Miami Heat defeated the Durant/Westbrook/Harden Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, Johnny Manziel became a Heisman Trophy winner, and the Seattle Seahawks cobbled together what just might be the greatest draft class in NFL History.

The 2012 NFL Draft, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, would hold the missing pieces for a Seattle Seahawks franchise that was about to become a powerhouse, building off of the success they had established in years past, once Pete Carroll became the Seahawks’ head coach.

Carroll’s first season as Seattle’s guiding hand was 2010, one where two first-round picks within the top 15 would prove to turn to gold over the years, with the pro bowl tackle Russell Okung being selected sixth overall, and the three-time All-Pro safety Earl Thomas falling to 14th for the Seahawks.

Along with Okung and Thomas, the Seahawks brought another Pro Bowler in Golden Tate, the second-round wide receiver, and yet another Pro Bowler in Kam Chancellor, the fifth-round safety. Joining that star-studded 2010 class would be a group in 2011 including James Carpenter, a 10-year starting guard in the league, and the Day Three selections of longtime Seahawk KJ Wright in the fourth round, and the three-time All-Pro Richard Sherman in the fifth.

But for as many stars and starters were selected in Carroll’s first two draft classes, they would prove to be just the foundation for a 2012 group that took the Seahawks from being a tough out to a top-tier Super Bowl contender. Bruce Irvin, the team’s first-round pick and nine-year NFL starter, was just the cherry on top of a remarkable class loaded round to round with diamonds in the rough. 

Finding Bobby Wagner, a six-time All-Pro player at middle linebacker, all the way in the middle of the second round, would go down as the win of the century for most teams– as would finding JR Sweezy, a reliable starting guard, at the tail end of the seventh round. But it would be Seattle’s third-round selection, the undersized, inexperienced quarterback out of Wisconsin, that would be the biggest difference-maker. Russell Wilson, fresh off a season with early-year MVP buzz and one of seven career Pro Bowl appearances, is what proved to take Seattle over the top.

Since going 7-9 twice in his first two NFL seasons, Carroll’s Seahawks have not experienced a season below .500 since 2011. On route to their decade of success, Seattle hasn’t overachieved, but coasted on the success of those star-studded draft classes, hauling in a group of players that have combined for 12 All-Pro teams and 34 Pro Bowls over the course of their careers. 

It’s the gems where Seattle has typically shined as well, of those 12 All-Pro teams, none of the appearances came from either of the Seahawks’ three first-round picks. And of their 34 combined Pro Bowls, just two were from those first-round selections. Through the early 2010s, Seattle had built a Super Bowl-caliber roster on the starting-caliber play of their early-round picks, and the surprise star power of their late-round selections. And through that success, with an elite roster assembled on rookie contracts, the Seahawks thrived to the tune of two NFC Championships and one dominant Super Bowl victory in Carroll’s first five seasons with the franchise.

All was well in Seattle, even after their 2014 Super Bowl loss. Because even while the team fell just short of their ultimate goal, a track record of established draft dominance through the Carroll tenure shows that this Seahawks franchise isn’t one set to rebuild, but reload via talented defensive stars and reliable offensive talent overlooked by the other 31 teams nowhere near as reliable as the Seahawks.

That was the idea, anyway.

The Beginning of the End

Of course, not everything always goes according to plan. Patterns eventually break, and empires eventually collapse– even one as consistently beautiful as what the Seahawks had done in their drafts through the early Carroll years. 

The selections of Okung, Tate, and Wilson on the offensive side of the ball are success stories, but the success found on defense, where All-Pro talent found past the first round is few and far between, Seattle thrived for three consecutive years. Among active NFL players, only 26 have been voted as first-team All-Pros three or more times. The Seahawks drafted three of them, more than any other team but the Patriots, who also drafted three. However, among those 26 with three or more All-Pro appearances– only 10 are defensive players. Seattle has drafted 30% of the league’s active three-time All-Pro defenders. 

But even with the Seahawks’ established success, even with all the playoff appearances and 10-win seasons, the franchise has stagnated in recent seasons. Always being good enough to make noise in the postseason, but never good enough to make it past the divisional round of the playoffs. That NFC Championship they won in 2014 was the last time Seattle made it as far as the NFL semifinals.

The question of how the Seahawks fell into the pit of frustrating “almost eliteness” is an easy one. Their draft classes, for as established a pedigree as they once had, have fallen off. Not every year can be a 2012 filled with Wilson’s and Wagner’s, or even a 2011 filled with Wright’s and Sherman’s. But a franchise that used to pluck talent out of thin air suddenly”¦ stopped.

In fact, that 2012 class might have been the last truly great draft the Seahawks have had since Carroll took over. Following that draft, the Seahawks hauled in a 2013 class where only two of their 11 selected players are still in the league, Spencer Ware and Luke Wilson. Ware, a two-time Super Bowl-winning running back, hasn’t seen the field since 2019, and spent last season on the Bears’ practice squad, while Wilson, a tight end, hasn’t had a season with more than 20 catches since 2014. 

The following season served as a step in the right direction, but failed in bringing certifiable star power into the league. Paul Richardson, Justin Britt, Cassius Marsh and Kevin Pierre-Louis remain as the only members of a nine-person draft class to still be in the league. Between them, a combined zero Pro Bowl appearances, while three of the four haven’t played a snap for Seattle since 2017. 

Even with a bounce-back 2015 class, one that included Frank Clark, Tyler Lockett, Mark Glowinski, and Tye Smith as standout selections after the first round, the Seahawks struggled to turn that success into momentum– turning in a 10 person 2016 draft class with just one player, the fifth-round running back Alex Collins, still standing as active Seahawks roster members.

2016 would prove to set the trend for Seattle. Some singles, the very occasional home run, and a lot of strikeouts. After a combined 34 Pro Bowl’s from their draft classes in 2010, 2011 and 2012, every subsequent Seahawks’ draft has made up a combined six Pro Bowl appearances, with no Pro Bowl players coming from the 2013, 2014 and 2016 draft classes. The only player from that group to make more than one, Frank Clark, made them both with a different team.

And it’s not that the Seahawks are simply failing in the late rounds, an area they once dominated. They’re falling short in the early rounds as well. Not even falling short of selecting solid starters, but falling short of selecting starters at all.

Jordyn Brooks, the Seahawks’ first-round pick from 2020, played for the team on just 32% of his team’s defensive snaps– fewer than all but four first-round rookies. To take it further, Seattle hasn’t had a first-round pick log a single season while on the field for half of their unit’s snaps since Germain Ifedi in 2016, who spent only the duration of his rookie contract with the Seahawks.

Issues on draft day have been plaguing the Seattle Seahawks for nearly a decade, after once standing as the pinnacle for draft excellence. After three all-time great draft classes, one after the other, the Seahawks have been forced to rely on those past successes with few instances of an influx of talent. That’s how the Seahawks got here.

But the matter of why the Seahawks got here is a little more complicated.

You ever wonder why we’re here?

In more than a few ways, the Seattle Seahawks are the model of consistency. 

With the seventh-longest tenured general manager in John Schneider and the fifth-longest tenured head coach in Pete Carroll, the Seattle front office has had the same two heads running the ship for over a decade.

Even the Seahawks quarterback situation has been the model of consistency. With Russell Wilson entering what will be his 10th season with Seattle in 2021, only three active quarterbacks have spent more time with their current NFL teams, and one of them, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, might not be long for that list.

From the front office to the sidelines to the field, not many franchises have stayed as stable as the Seattle Seahawks– for better and worse. But while the three poster boys of the Seahawks’ operation have been the same since 2012, the faces behind the scenes have changed roles and left the team altogether. 

Scott Fitterer, the Carolina Panthers current general manager, spent two decades with the Seahawks organization– overseeing their 2010 draft class in his final year as Seattle’s area scout, and being a key part of the 2011 and 2012 drafts as the Director of College Scouting. Fitterer wasn’t long for that role, however, and was promoted to Seattle’s Co-Director of Player Personnel following the 2014 season– a job that has less to do with scouting college players, and more to do with managing active NFL guys.

Fitterer, a man worthy enough of a general manager position, was moved out of a draft-focused role just around the time the Seattle draft classes began to slip– but he’s not the only one.

John Idzik, who joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2007– is himself, no longer with the franchise. After serving the role of Vice President of Football Administration for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 classes– Idzik himself earned a promotion to the role of General Manager for the New York Jets.

Scot McCloughan became a member of the Seahawks in 2010 as the team’s Senior Personnel Executive, leaving in 2012 after being a key member of the ”˜Golden Three’ draft classes and being promoted, like Fitterer and Idzik, to General Manager of a different NFL franchise.

The general manager careers of both Idzik and McCloughan were short-lived, but regardless, both men, as well as Fitterer, served key scouting roles in the early 2010s, earned promotions for the team success built off of those early draft classes, and left the organization or moved to different roles as the draft dark ages began. 

Football is, to put it mildly, hard. Those who are good at it, those who know what they’re doing, aren’t long for smaller roles. Any ounce of talent or resume shine that stands above the crowd will attract suitors away from your old role, and into a new one with a new franchise. It happened for the Seattle Seahawks– the curse of their unsustainable success.

What now?

Not all hope is lost for the Seattle Seahawks draft room, of course. In fact, Seattle has struck late-round gold a few times in recent seasons, selecting cornerback Shaquill Griffin in the third round in 2017, and selecting running back Chris Carson four rounds later the same year. And of course, at the absolute end of the 2019 draft, after the selection of wide receivers like Andy Isabella, Mecole Hardman, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside before him– Seattle took DK Metcalf 64th overall– who has already proven to be a star in the league in just two seasons.

But where those gems used to be a frequent occurrence for the Seahawks, they’re now few and far between. And in 2021, Seattle entered the draft in a decidedly un-Seattle fashion; with just three draft picks. 

From 2010 to 2020, the Seahawks employed the ”˜cast a wide net and hope the best’ approach to the NFL Draft, with just two of their 11 classes in that span featuring fewer than nine selections, and never fewer than eight.

In 2021, Seattle drafted just three players, the fewest selections for any team since the 2009 New York Jets. The Seahawks didn’t make a pick until the second round.

Perhaps this is a sign of the times. The Seahawks came into the NFL Draft with little ammo due in large part to an aggressive trade to secure Jamal Adams, the former Jets’ star safety. Rather than drafting All-Pro defensive talent, maybe Seattle’s new plan is to bring in established talent and use their high-end draft picks as currency.

And maybe that’s for the best. With as much trouble as the Seahawks have had drafting relative to their older classes, maybe Seattle truly needs to rely on well-documented stars rather than taking shots in the NFL Draft.

Maybe that will lead to another Super Bowl run, and another boost to their run of consistent success. Maybe this is the start of a new era for the steady Seahawks. 

Maybe this is the end of the Seattle Seahawks draft empire. But even if it is, for everything they established through that shining 2012 class, this will not be the end of the Seattle Seahawks NFL relevance. 

The post The rise and fall of the Seattle Seahawks draft empire appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Steph Sanchez

Talk of a potential Richard Sherman reunion in San Francisco has been brewing all offseason. Rumors intensified after reports surfaced that Sherman and the 49ers have had initial contract discussions. How much value does Richard Sherman really give the 49ers at this point of his career?

For starters, Richard Sherman is arguably one of the most intelligent defenders in the NFL. Knowledge is invaluable and Sherman has proven to be a mentor to the team’s young corners. The other side of the coin is that the 49ers solidified the cornerback group. They brought back veteran CB Jason Verrett and CB Emmanuel Moseley. Verrett when healthy is an unquestioned starter and Moseley has risen to the challenge before. He is more than capable of starting. 

Furthermore, the  49ers have drafted two more corners in Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir. Is there room for another veteran corner whose best value at age 33 is his football IQ and mentorship? Are the 49ers willing to have Moseley ride the bench another season so Sherman could start? Moseley is on a one-year deal and will be looking to showcase his abilities to potential suitors ahead of next offseason’s free agency period. He has not had a real chance to run away with the starting job since the team’s 2019 Super Bowl run. There’s no better time to see what he is made of until now. Bringing Sherm back would impact Moseley’s outlook the most. 

The other option is bringing Sherman back solely as an injury insurance backup. Having his wisdom and veteran knowledge would then be a bonus. It sounds great in theory but it’s unclear how willing the five-time All Pro would be to taking a step back on the depth chart. Sherman has always been outspoken when it comes to his self- confidence. I’m not sure I could see such a competitive guy like that accepting a backup role. 

On a similar note, Sherman knows what he’s worth and may seek to demand a contract some teams, including the 49ers, may not be willing to pay. Sherman’s market may be limited. Working as his own agent and negotiating for himself, he is playing the field and keeping all options open. The overarching question to all of this is – Will Richard Sherman be willing to compromise on his role or his pay? If yes, I expect the 49ers would be happy to bring him back but I expect both sides to play hard ball just a tad longer before making a decision.

The post Should the 49ers bring All Pro Richard Sherman back? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Josh Shippen

During free agency, there were many rumors and scenarios floated around involving the fates of every available free agent, and Sherman was no exception. Richard Sherman was floated to the Saints on many different venues, and I believe the scenario is plausible.

To start out with the basic history, Sherman was drafted 154th overall in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Sherman very quickly became a household name, posting 17 passes defended, 4 interceptions, and an 85.2 grade from Pro Football Focus which ranked 16th amongst qualifying cornerbacks of that season. Sherman’s career quickly escalated from there, he became notorious for his role in the Legion of Boom secondary along with Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas III. This Legion of Boom became a part of one of the best defenses in the NFL for a stretch, a defense that was able to make two Super Bowls and win one. Sherman’s career has seen three First-Team All-Pro appearances, two Second Team appearances, and Five Pro Bowls. He was also the leader in interceptions for 2013.

‘Sherman has attained a reputation of being rather outspoken for his trash-talking and brash statements. This includes Sherman saying he was “livid” at some of the player selections in front of him, and calling Michael Crabtree a “sorry receiver”. This could hurt Sherman’s stock, especially since his reputation has not recessed in recent years.

In 2018, Sherman signed a 3 year $39 Million dollar deal with the San Francisco 49ers, a deal whose expiration has caused the loss of a job for Sherman. Sherman’s contract was not extended and he hit the free-agent market this season. Sherman had two lackluster seasons marred by injury and poor play in 2018 and 2020 but had a season in 2019 that I regarded as one of the best cornerback performances of the season with 11 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and an 88.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, one of the best by a cornerback.

While Sherman’s drop-off has not been unexpected or completely sudden, it does pose a problem for Sherman getting a new job. Most bad teams looking for a cornerback are looking for a strong young presence rather than an older, less effective presence, and most good teams are not in the market for cornerbacks because there is already depth at the position. Yet, here are the Saints. The perfect middle ground.

The New Orleans Saints have had a very strong defensive past few years, but 2020 featured a slight but noticeable recession. Players like Marshon Lattimore that had been rocking in that defense had a pretty bad 2020 season, and Janoris Jenkins, D.J. Swearinger, Sheldon Rankins, and Kwon Alexander all left in the 2020 offseason. So while the defense does look like it is about to recede, there are players such as Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson that people should definitely be excited about. So the defense could be turning into a need, but we are not at a desperate position yet.

In short, Sherman could be a great addition to this team. At the height of his powers, he could be an upgrade on the reliable veteran presence that Janoris Jenkins brought in recent years past. Sherman has a chance to be a part of a new great defense,

The post Why the Saints need to sign Richard Sherman appeared first on Pro Football Mania.