Richard Sherman Signs With 49ers
Well that didn’t take long. Just a day after being released from the Seahawks, Richard Sherman found a new home by signing a three-year deal with the 49ers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported (Twitter link). 
Sherman’s deal is worth $39 MM over three seasons, including a $5 MM signing bonus, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets the deal includes a $2 MM base salary, $2 MM in 46-man roster bonuses, $1 MM playtime incentives and a $3 MM Pro Bowl incentive. He adds that if Sherman makes the Pro Bowl in 2018, another $16 MM in base salary for 2019-20 becomes guaranteed.
The veteran cornerback told ESPN’s Josina Anderson earlier in the day that he was discussing a deal with the Bay Area side (Twitter link). Less than an hour later, the deal was done.
Acting as his own agent, Sherman kicked off his 49ers tour with a dinner with head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday night, and the sides took more formal steps on Saturday. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports Sherman took a physical with the 49ers today and met with more team officials.
The results of the physical must have been good. The cornerback is currently rehabbing from a torn Achilles in one leg and had surgery to remove a bone spur in the other. Sherman tabbed June as a potential timeframe for when he can return to training.
Sherman reportedly had drawn interest from a number of teams and was even said to be scheduling a visit to meet with the Lions, but the 49ers didn’t let the star cornerback leave the room. He will now get to suit up for the team he tormented for seven seasons with its NFC West division foe. With the move, Sherman will also reunite with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who was a defensive assistant in Seattle from 2011-13.
One of the most decorated cornerback of the last decade, Sherman has earned four Pro Bowl selections and won a Super Bowl during his seven-year stay with the Seahawks. Since he entered the league in 2011, Sherman has recorded the most interceptions (32) in the NFL.
Sherman Discussing Three-Year Deal With 49ers
Richard Sherman‘s first meeting of free agency must have gone well. The veteran cornerback is discussing a potential three-year deal with the 49ers, ESPN’s Josina Anderson hears from Sherman (Twitter link). 
At 7:30 P.M. EST, Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager also tweeted the Sherman was currently in a room with 49ers executives, including general manager John Lynch.
After being released from the Seahawks yesterday, Sherman scheduled a meeting with the 49ers for Friday night and met with team brass. Though it was reported the three-time First Team All-Pro was looking to set up a meeting with Detroit, it sounds like he might have to cancel those plans. This is not your typical rumor, also, since the reported source is Sherman himself.
Acting as his own agent, Sherman kicked off his 49ers tour with a dinner with head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday night, and the sides took more formal steps on Saturday. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports Sherman took a physical with the 49ers today and met with more team officials. The veteran cornerback is still rehabbing from an Achilles injury and a minor surgery to remove a bone spur. He has put his own timeline on when he expects to be back, penciling in a return to training in June.
One of the most decorated cornerback of the last decade, Sherman has earned four Pro Bowl selections and won a Super Bowl during his seven-year stay with the Seahawks. Since he entered the league in 2011, Sherman has recorded the most interceptions (32) in the NFL.
Nothing is official but it appears an agreement to keep Sherman in the NFC West could come down at any time.
Benson Mayowa To Meet With Redskins
On Wednesday, the Cowboys cut defensive end Benson Mayowa after two seasons with the team. On Saturday, he scheduled his first meeting with a potential new squad in the Redskins, ESPN’s John Keim tweets. 
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, per Keim’s sources. After signing with the Cowboys in 2016, Mayowa produced his finest season as a pro by recording six sacks in his first season with the team. That production tailed off in 2017, resulting in just one sack in 14 games. By releasing the fifth-year pass rusher, Dallas freed up $2.75 MM in cap room while leaving just $1 MM in dead money.
Should Mayowa find a home with Washington, it would follow a recent trend of Cowboys defensive linemen heading to the Redskins. After a career year in 2013, defensive tackle Jason Hatcher made the move and played just two seasons before calling it quits. In 2017, Terrell McClain joined the fold after making 15 starts the previous season in Dallas. He produced just two sacks in 12 games this past season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/9/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Tendered: CB C.J. Goodwin (ERFA)
- Tendered: RB Elijhaa Penny (ERFA)
- Tendered: DL Olsen Pierre (ERFA)
- Tendered: OL John Wetzel (ERFA)
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: DL Drew Iddings
- Tendered: P Michael Palardy (ERFA)
- Tendered: WR Damiere Byrd (ERFA)
- Tendered: OL Tyler Larsen (ERFA)
- Tendered: TE Chris Manhertz (ERFA)
Denver Broncos
- Tendered: DE Shelby Harris (ERFA)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OL Jake McQuaide
Reaction To Browns Trades
In a span of less than two hours on Friday, the Browns completely retooled their offense and added a piece to their secondary by acquiring Jarvis Landry, Tyrod Taylor and Damarious Randall from the Dolphins, Bills and Packers respectively.
The flurry of moves drastically improves the teams offense and provides a veteran stopgap quarterback — assuming no longterm deal is made — that can bridge to the signal-caller the team is presumably going to tab with one of its two first-round picks.
Leaving Cleveland was 2017 second-round pick DeShone Kizer, who was sent to Green Bay in the Randall deal. The teams also agreed to swap fourth- and fifth-round picks in the upcoming draft. For Landry, the Browns only parted with a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 123) and 2019 seventh-round selection. In the Taylor deal, Cleveland sent one of its third-round picks (No. 65) in exchange for the turnover-averse passer.
These deals can not be officially completed until Wednesday, the first day of the 2018 season.
Here’s more on Cleveland’s busy day:
- The Browns do not have a long-term deal in place for Landry at the moment but both sides are interested, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets. Jackson also notes (Twitter link) that Landry likes the situation in Cleveland and is excited to work with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
- Sticking with Landry, the Ravens, Titans and Jets were all involved in talks for the receiver late this week before the Browns landed him, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. The Ravens were widely reported as suitors for the dynamic slot receiver, but both the Jets and Titans flew under the radar.
- ESPN’s Pat McManamon believes the trade of Kizer and the acquisition of Taylor emphasizes the Browns believe in one of the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. He writes the plan is for Taylor to hold the spot in 2018 and let the drafted passer take the role in 2019.
- Several other teams were interested in adding Taylor, including the Cardinals and Broncos, the Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci reports (Twitter link). Both teams were not willing to meet the Browns’ offer of a third-round pick. Kent Somers of AZ Central Sports, however, hears that the Cardinals were not involved in talks for the quarterback (Twitter link).
- Heavily linked with Cleveland due to his ties with head coach Hue Jackson, A.J. McCarron will have to find a new suitor. ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link) noted the obvious candidates — Arizona, Denver and now Buffalo — as potential landing spots for the former Alabama signal-caller.
Sherman Released With Failed Physical Designation
On Friday, the Seahawks officially released Richard Sherman. The team added a failed physical designation upon his release, allowing the cornerback to be eligible for a $1.15 MM injury guarantee if he never plays again, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
The likelihood of that coming to fruition is not high, as Sherman seems intent on playing in 2018. On Nov. 9, 2017, the star cornerback ruptured his Achilles vs. Arizona, but he claims he is just months away from returning to full health.
In a letter to the Seahawks, Sherman thanked the organization, teammates and fans, and penned, “As this chapter comes to a close I am looking forward to what the future holds.”
Though he issued a heartfelt letter to the organization and is reportedly interested in joining the Patriots, the cornerback did not close the door on a return to Seattle.
“They are gonna let me explore free agency with the hope that I can return,” Sherman told ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). “They just wanted the financial flexibility.”
With the release of the four-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro selection, the Seahawks saved $11 MM against the salary cap.
Browns Deal Kizer For Damarious Randall
In the deal that sent 2015 first-round cornerback Damarious Randall to the Browns, the Packers received in return quarterback DeShone Kizer, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets. 
In addition to Randall and Kizer, the teams agreed to swap picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
A second-round selection in 2017, Kizer started 15 games with Browns as a rookie and did not win a game, posting just 11 touchdowns with a league-leading 22 interceptions. The writing appeared on the wall that the Notre Dame product was not in the Browns’ future plans after the team swung a deal for Tyrod Taylor on Friday. Just moments later, the team was able to find Kizer a new home in the Randall deal.
Boasting prototypical size and a cannon for an arm, Kizer entered the 2017 NFL Draft as a potential franchise signal-caller who could go in the first round. With the move to Green Bay, he will be able to learn the ropes from one of the best in the business in Aaron Rodgers while battling Brett Hundley, who has one year remaining on his rookie deal, for backup duties.
With the deal, the Packers cleared $1.4 MM in cap space. The Browns will have a fifth-year option on the cornerback they will have to declare by May 3, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reports (Twitter link).
A first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in 2015, Randall has appeared in 39 games with 30 starts in Green Bay and has made 10 interceptions. In 2017, the cornerback registered four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in 12 starts.
The trade can be made official as early as Wednesday.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
Browns Trade For Packers CB Damarious Randall
Before the dust is settled from one deal, the Browns move on to the next. Just minutes after executing a trade for Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the team was at it again by striking a deal for Packers cornerback Damarious Randall, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
Details of what the Browns were sending back to the Packers were not immediately available. With the deal, the Packers cleared $1.4 MM in cap space. The Browns will have a fifth-year option on the cornerback they will have to declare by May 3, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reports (Twitter link).
A first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in 2015, Randall has appeared in 39 games with 30 starts in Green Bay and has made 10 interceptions. In 2017, the cornerback registered four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in 12 starts.
Browns Trade For Tyrod Taylor
The Browns’ busy day isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. After pulling off a deal for Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the team has now struck another blockbuster deal by acquiring Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor for a third-round draft pick (No. 65), ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. 
With the move, the Browns locked in their veteran quarterback for the 2018 season while maintaining all their first- and second-round selections and without spending big money on a veteran like Case Keenum or A.J. McCarron. The Bills now are in the market for a quarterback and could potentially package the third-round pick it just picked up in an effort to move up to grab one of the top signal-callers in the upcoming draft.
In his third season as the starter in Buffalo, Taylor continued to limit turnovers while being able to make plays down the field and with his legs. He threw for 14 touchdowns with only four interceptions and added 427 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. In Cleveland, Taylor will be outfitted with his most impressive receiver corps in his stint as a starter with Landry, Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman out wide.
The acquisition of Taylor presumably gives the Browns a stopgap under center, allowing the team to use one its first-round picks (No. 1 and 4) to tab a quarterback in the upcoming draft. Taylor is signed through the 2018 season at a cap number of $18 MM — $10 MM of which is guaranteed.
The move of Taylor away from Buffalo shouldn’t come as a shock. The team had refused to commit to the Virginia Tech product and it was reported in February the quarterback refused to take a pay cut after taking one the year before. Due a $6 MM roster bonus at the beginning of the new league year, it only made sense for the Bills to move on.
If the Bills do not attempt to package picks to move up in the draft, the team will enter the 2018 campaign with Nathan Peterman as its starter, barring any m0ves in free agency.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
Packers CB Demetri Goodson Will Not Be UFA
The contract for Packers cornerback Demetri Goodson has tolled, meaning he will not be an unrestricted free agent in 2018, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Michael Cohen tweets.
As Cohen notes, a contract tolls when a player in the last year of his deal is on the physically unable to perform list past the sixth game of the season. The contract is pushed back a year, giving the team an extra year of control.
The 2014 sixth-round selection missed the entire 2017 season recovering from tearing both his ACL and MCL vs. the Redskins in 2016. Goodson returned to practice in November but did not see the field.
Before the injury, Goodson made three starts in six games in 2016. During his career, the Baylor product has appeared in 26 and registered 25 tackles.