Richard Sherman free agency rumors: 5 potential landing spots

2. Houston Texans

Picture this — a healthy J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, to go along with Jadeveon Clowney along the front line to form a formidable pass rush for the Texans. In the secondary there’s solid depth, including Jonathan Joseph (a pending free agent), Kareem Jackson and former first-round pick Kevin Johnson, but in a passing league there’s no such thing as too much help on the back end of a defense.

The Texans, which may surprise some, have the seventh-most salary cap space in the league ($63.18 million) with free agency approaching. So they are well-positioned to address their needs, and turn things around quickly after a 4-12 2017 campaign.

Houston can take on Sherman’s expected salary and cap number for 2018 without issue. He may to go long-term on a new deal, something the Texans might be more willing to do than other franchises.

The AFC South is still there for the Texans to take, and as long as quarterback Deshaun Watson returns on schedule from his torn ACL a quick rebound is easy to see next season. Adding Sherman would bring a still above-average corner to what can be an elite defense, to say nothing of his playoff experience.