Richard Sherman: Ranking potential trade destinations

1. San Francisco 49ers

The new regime in San Francisco has been fairly aggressive in free agency, but they’ve now unseated the Cleveland Browns as the team with most salary cap space in the league (via Spotrac.com).

If it’s draft picks Seattle wants in a trade for Sherman, the 49ers have 10 selections in April’s draft with the possibility of another high first-round pick in 2018 as John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan start a rebuild this year. Sherman’s contract, in terms of money and the remaining two years, would not prevent San Francisco from trying to build for now and the future simultaneously.

It of course takes two to tango in trade talks, and the Seahawks may not want to see Sherman on an opposite sideline twice a year for at least the next two years. But if Seattle thinks Sherman is headed for a decline, durability-related or otherwise, they could be willing to essentially dump him on a division rival for less than what an expected return would be.

Next: NFL March Madness: Who's the greatest quarterback of all-time?

If he lands elsewhere, Sherman probably wants to maintain a chance to win a Super Bowl in the short-term. The 49ers obviously aren’t there right now, as they pickup the pieces from what former general manager Trent Baalke left behind.

Let’s not underestimate the 49ers coming with a proverbial trade offer that can’t be refused, and Sherman taking the opportunity to play the Seahawks twice a season as a motivational slight from Pete Carroll and company.