Richard Sherman released by Seahawks, should Raiders make a run at the former All Pro?

This week Richard Sherman was telling his teammates that he was going to be leaving Seattle. Whether that was a sure thing and/or exactly HOW he would be no longer wearing a Seahawks uniform (release or trade) would be decided by Friday. Sherman has had his meeting with Seahawks brass and has been told he will be released.

The 29-year-old former three-time All Pro is considered by many to be the best cornerback of his generation. He was the key cog in the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom defense that led them to the playoffs five straight years.

That playoff run included two trips to the Super Bowl and one Super Bowl ring, barely missing a second (had they handed the ball off to Marshawn at the goal line instead of throwing it).

Sherman was in the final year of a 5-year contract that made him a $13.2 million cap hit. He has been worth that amount to be certain for many years. But a couple things are at play now.

First and foremost, the Seahawks are cleaning house. They are stripping this perennial playoff squad to the frame. Sherman is no exception here. And with his contract, he was a prime candidate to be sent packing.

Secondly, Sherman is coming off an Achilles tear that cost him the final 7 games of last season. He’s more known for his size and instincts than his speed, so he may recover from the injury and return to being the All Pro and Pro Bowl player he was for five straight seasons from 2012-16.

Sherman is a Stanford alum and Southern California native. He could be looking to join a team in need of a starting cornerback that is a contender. He may also appreciate some familiar faces. The Raiders check all those boxes. The familiar faces being Marshawn Lynch, Bruce Irvin, and Tom Cable.

There’s also the familiar face of Michael Crabtree who was on the wrong end of Sherman’s NFC Championship game winning pass defended tipped interception and subsequent infamous rant.

Can you imagine these two being on the same team? Going at it in practice every day?

More importantly, would the Raiders bring him onboard? It’s a very interesting proposition.

If they don’t, Sherman says the Seahawks would like to bring him back.