The San Francisco 49ers signed four-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman on Saturday. Would that deal have happened had the 49ers been able to acquire former Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who was sent to the Los Angeles Rams instead?
The 49ers were very interested in Talib. They were reportedly in deep trade talks with the Broncos for the cornerback. How far did discussions get?
According to a report on Sunday morning by Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal to send Talib from Denver to San Francisco was done. The only thing that ended the trade was that Talib refused to go to the 49ers.
"Aqib Talib rejected a trade that was agreed to between Denver and SF; wouldn't report," wrote Schefter via Twitter. "He later is traded to LA. So SF doesn't get its CB, Richard Sherman is released and he winds up in SF."
Denver ended up dealing Talib to the Rams, where he reunites with former Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. He will be paired with former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, whose trade to the Rams will finalize on Wednesday at the start of the new league year.
Sherman signed a three-year deal with the 49ers worth up to $39.15 million just one day after being released by the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Barring another roster move or draft selection, he will be paired with second-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who started nine games as a starter in 2017.