Philadelphia Eagles should not trade for Richard Sherman

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman reportedly wants to be traded, but the Philadelphia Eagles need to restrain themselves from pulling the trigger.

In case you haven’t heard, star cornerback Richard Sherman has reportedly requested a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. Last week, it was reported the Seahawks were seeking “a very good player plus a high draft pick” in exchange for Sherman. However, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo now believes the team has lowered their asking price and is currently aiming for a first-round pick and a mid-round pick for the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback.

Sherman is still one of the top corners in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles, who are desperate for cornerback talent, may feel tempted to trade for the outspoken defensive back. But it may be in the Eagles’ best interest to restrain themselves from making such a monumental trade.

Obviously, Sherman would be an instant upgrade over ever cornerback currently on the Eagles’ roster. Jalen Mills needs to improve after an inconsistent rookie season, Patrick Robinson has declined significantly in recent years and Ron Brooks isn’t even guaranteed a roster spot in 2017. Sherman would immediately give the Eagles a shutdown corner on the outside.

More from Inside the Iggles

But only for a short time.

Sherman, who just turned 29 years old, isn’t exactly a young buck anymore and has just two years remaining on the massive contract extension he signed in 2014 (which, by the way, equals a cap hit of over $13 million over the next two seasons). Even if Sherman were to play well, he would be seeking another expensive contract extension in 2019. The Eagles, who already have their fair share of cap issues, probably wouldn’t want to give such a huge contract to a corner on the wrong side of 30.

This year’s draft is also stocked with talented corners. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock called this year’s cornerback class one of the deepest he’s seen in years. Wouldn’t it be smarter for the Eagles to draft a pair of corners and develop them into long-time starters rather than trading for a player past his prime?

Next: Eagles’ top 5 draft selections of all time

It should also be noted that these trade rumors aren’t totally Sherman’s doing. The Seahawks are very open to moving their superstar corner. Why would they be so open to moving such an irreplaceable asset?

While trading for Sherman would be a great short-term solution for the Eagles, it wouldn’t solve the team’s long-term issues at corner. As tempting as it may be, Philadelphia would be much better off selecting a corners or two in this year’s draft and developing them into full-time starters down the road.

Home/Eagles News