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ESPN predicts futures for Julio Jones, Richard Sherman; one lands with 49ers
May 24, 2021 at 6:51 AM
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June 1 could be a key date for former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman. After that date, a team could sign the five-time Pro Bowl defender without having the move impact the formula for compensatory picks. The market has been nearly nonexistent for Sherman. Although, he will likely end up somewhere — probably before the start of the season.
June 1 also plays a part in any deal for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. Waiting until after the deadline, the Falcons gain some salary-cap flexibility, pushing some of the receiver's bonus money — or dead cap — to next year.
Bill Barnwell provided a more detailed explanation of the salary-cap implications of trading Jones in a recent feature for ESPN where the writer predicts
post-June 1 deadline NFL deals. In it, Barnwell predicts the landing spots for both Jones and Sherman.
Don't get your hopes up if you are headed over to the article wanting to see the 49ers linked to Jones as a likely trade partner. While the marriage does make some sense, Barnwell has the Jacksonville Jaguars trading a 2022 second-round pick and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. to acquire the seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro.
"The Kyle Shanahan link makes the 49ers a tantalizing option," wrote Barnwell, "but San Francisco is already down so much draft capital from the Trey Lance deal -- and it will need to use its cap space to re-sign guys like
Fred Warner and
Nick Bosa in the years to come."
On the other hand, Sherman is a strong candidate to return to San Francisco, in Barnwell's opinion. Within his predictions, the ESPN scribe has the veteran three-time first-team All-Pro signing a one-year, $4 million deal to return to his team of the past three seasons.
"Sherman is 33 and missed 11 games in 2020 with a calf injury, but he was an effective cornerback during his time with the 49ers," wrote Barnwell. "He's not going to be the All-Pro corner from the peak Seattle days, but Sherman is still a very viable NFL starter at this point of his career. Sherman's understanding of the game and insight into preparation may also be valuable to teams as they develop younger corners on the roster."
San Francisco held onto
Jason Verrett this offseason, and Barnwell believes that bringing Sherman back could be a good insurance policy should the oft-injured Verrett be sidelined in the future.
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