INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers speaks to a teammate on the bench in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
The Saints are still in win-now mode despite the retirement of Drew Brees. That’s why New Orleans is pushing to sign Richard Sherman in free agency.
Any Saints fans concerned about New Orleans’ level of ambition after Drew Brees’ retirement can rest easy. New Orleans’ decision to chase Richard Sherman in free agency sends a clear signal that Sean Payton’s team is ready to push for a Super Bowl bid in 2021.
The Saints have a clear hole at cornerback to fill after releasing Janoris Jenkins early in the free agency period. Sherman won’t be a long-term solution for New Orleans, but he can be a short-term boost for a team that wants to stay relevant next season.
The presence of Sherman’s former cornerbacks coach, Kris Richard also gives the Saints a potential leg-up in the race to land the veteran defensive back. Richard and Sherman worked together in Seattle to great effect. The Saints believe the two can work together again with similar results in The Big Easy.
The big question the Saints must answer is how much money they’re willing to pony up for Sherman. The team’s ability to perform salary cap calisthenics may be a running joke around the NFL, but there are financial limits to what New Orleans can do this offseason.
Sherman may not be determined to sign with the highest bidder, but the Saints will need to make a competitive offer if they want to secure his services.
In the end, the Saints should be able to land Sherman with a one-year deal that pays him like a starting cornerback. He’s no longer one of the premier corners in the game, but he’s still a solid starter at a position of intense need in New Orleans.
This is one potential free agency signing that seems to make too much sense not to happen.