Richard Sherman may have a Hall of Fame bust in his likeness someday. So why can’t he get a second contract with the 49ers? As much as the impending free agent would love to remain in San Francisco beyond this year, Sherman understands that a soon-to-be 33-year-old cornerback may not be the Niners’ top priority.
“They'll probably have $30 million or less in cap and they have got to bring back Trent [Williams], who costs over $20 million. They have to pay Fred [Warner], who costs $18 million-plus a year,” said the five-time Pro Bowler in comments transcribed by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “Anybody who knows the situation understands that."
Sherman, who negotiated his own three-year, $27.15-million contract with the Niners after the Seahawks inexplicably cut him in 2018, is well aware of the league’s shrinking salary cap, the result of revenue losses from COVID-19. Due to Santa Clara County’s latest COVID shutdown, the 49ers had to play their last home game in Arizona, which will also be the site of their upcoming matchup with Washington this Sunday.
After a resurgent 2019 that saw Sherman lead San Francisco to a surprise Super Bowl appearance, the Stanford alum has spent much of 2020 as a spectator, missing nine games with a calf injury suffered in the Niners’ season opener. While Sherman envisions this year as his 49ers swan song, coach Kyle Shanahan remains hopeful he’ll be back for another bite at the proverbial apple in 2021.
“Now, there's lots of stuff that go into it at the end of the year and how we're going to balance all this out and wait to figure out what the salary cap is and stuff with what happens, but I know Sherm's time here, he's been everything we've hoped and more,” said Shanahan of his All-Pro corner. “And I really hope that these next whatever games we have left, I really hope that's not the end of it."
Shanahan is clearly an admirer of Sherman’s work and wants him back for another go-round in Silicon Valley if possible. But with money tight—the 49ers enter 2021 with a little over $23 million in available cap space—Sherman isn’t holding his breath.
“If there's some miracle that happens, then sure, there's an opening,” said the veteran, leaving the door open just a crack for a Niners return in 2021.
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