JOHN CLAYTON

Clayton: While the talks are real, trading Richard Sherman wouldn’t be easy for the Seahawks

Apr 6, 2017, 5:05 AM

seahawks...

Could the Seahawks be parting ways with seven-year veteran CB Richard Sherman? (AP)

(AP)

Seahawks general manager John Schneider told “Brock and Salk” on Wednesday that the Richard Sherman trade talks are real.

Schneider admitted the chances of a trade aren’t good, but Sherman is available and tough decisions are ahead. Sherman told Gee Scott last week that he understands the business side of the NFL. Last season, Sherman showed his displeasure with some offensive play-calling and expressed some problems with the defense in separate sideline outbursts.

With this story becoming so public, it might be hard for the Seahawks to have Sherman back in 2017 and put these problems behind them. The problem is, what can the Seahawks do if there’s no trade? As one Seahawks player told Scott, it’s a lose-lose situation.

What’s pretty clear is that the Legion of Boom is under review. Kam Chancellor’s contract expires after this season. Earl Thomas’ is up after 2018.

If you want an interesting study of where this team is at, take a look at the depth chart. The Seahawks have eight cornerbacks, but that includes one in DeShawn Shead who is going to miss probably half the season as he comes off a knee injury. The roster has only three safeties: Thomas, Chancellor and Bradley McDougald.

It’s pretty safe to say the Seahawks will be going heavily after defensive backs in the draft. Fortunately for Seattle, it’s a strong draft for the secondary.

The problem with trading Sherman and replacing him with a rookie is the expected dropoff in that first year for Seattle’s defense. Let’s say the Seahawks can get a first-rounder and something else for Sherman. Unless they land an experienced starter, they would go into the season with Jeremy Lane, their third cornerback last year, as the No. 1. Neiko Thorpe, Perrish Cox, DeAndre Elliott and Pierre Desir would be the main options for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Subtract Sherman and the Seahawks might have to get two corners out of this draft.

Just like we saw with the offensive line last year, there is a chance the cornerback position would then be too young.

Look what happened in Carolina last year. Because they didn’t think they could sign Josh Norman to a long-term deal, the Panthers pulled the franchise tag and let him go to Washington as a free agent. The Panthers ended up using three of their five draft choices on cornerbacks.

The results were horrible. Carolina’s defense dropped from sixth to 21st in yards allowed and the Panthers went from 15-1 and the Super Bowl in 2015 to 6-10.

A Sherman trade wouldn’t be easy.

The Cowboys are currently tight against the cap. They’re designating quarterback Tony Romo a post-June 1 cut and therefore won’t get $14 million in cap relief until then. The Patriots might be interested in Sherman, but they just spent $13 million a year on Stephon Gilmore. They have the cap room but they don’t have a draft choice in the first two rounds. The Titans could be a good fit but they just signed Logan Ryan for $10 million a year. Plus, it’s a good cornerback draft.

Stay tuned.

Want more John Clayton? Listen on-demand to his weekday and Saturday shows as well as his “Cold Hard Facts” and “Clayton’s Morning Drive” segments on 710 ESPN Seattle. Also, check out his all-new “Schooled” podcast and look for his columns twice a week on 710Sports.com.

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Clayton: While the talks are real, trading Richard Sherman wouldn’t be easy for the Seahawks