The 49ers are mostly set when it comes to how their 90-man roster will look when training camp gets underway in July, but there's at least one unsigned player who looms large as a possible addition the team could make before the players return to Santa Clara.
That player of course is cornerback Richard Sherman, who has yet to find a team after playing with the 49ers the past three seasons.
Whether the 49ers and Sherman decide to reunite for another go-round remains to be seen. But NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadia thinks continuing the relationship would make sense for both sides as he listed the 49ers re-signing Sherman as one of five big moves NFL teams should make in the coming months.
"As of right now, the best fit for Sherman remains the 49ers," wrote Chadia. "He's spent the last three seasons with that franchise and he can still help its secondary, even at age 33. A lingering calf injury limited Sherman to just five games last season, but he did make the Pro Bowl in 2019. If he can be anywhere close to what he was two years ago, Sherman would give San Francisco's defense a boost. The team re-signed a couple veterans (Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley) and drafted a couple young talents (Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir), but there's still room for Sherman to be both a crafty playmaker and an invaluable mentor."
Sherman has expressed interest in other teams but has also shown a willingness to come back to the 49ers. The 49ers reportedly were talking with Sherman in early May about a possible return and made it clear after the draft they would not rule out bringing him back for the regular season.
"We love Sherm. He's a friend," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on April 30. "I've got as much respect for him as anyone I've ever coached. I think the last time I talked to him was Easter. I'm sure I will sooner than later. But Sherm's in a good situation to where, Sherm's a businessman. He's going to find out the best opportunity for him. I know teams are going to want him. But when you're in a situation like him at his age, which these guys do, and you have the credentials like he does, you sit back and you watch and you find the best opportunity for yourself. I know Sherm's probably going to want to go to a contender just knowing him and how competitive he is. He'll sit back and be smart and make the right decision for himself. But, when you've got a guy that you trust and care about and you also know how competitive he is, we will never rule him out."
As Chadia says, Sherman's presence could prove to be extremely helpful for the team's recently drafted cornerbacks in Thomas and Lenoir (Lenoir has already received some advice from Sherman in the past). And from Sherman's end, it would give him the opportunity to prolong his career and play for a contender. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a new deal between Sherman and the 49ers come to fruition in the weeks ahead if everything is to each side's liking.