2. Team must rebuild its depth
We saw this come up in a big way last season. While Seattle did win 10 games and earn the NFC West title, it was not a legitimate Super Bowl contender. That was magnified during the team’s blowout loss to Atlanta in the divisional playoffs. Simply put, there’s not a ton of depth on this roster.
The interesting dynamic here is that some of this lack of depth comes at cornerback opposite Sherman himself. Following the departures of Brandon Browner and Byron Maxwell over the past few seasons, Seattle has failed to add anyone of real substance opposite Sherman. That’s played a role in the minor regression we saw from the Seahawks’ defense last season.
Also important to note, Seattle’s offensive line remains one of the worst in the NFL. As of now, George Fant and Garry Gilliam would likely be the team’s two starting tackles. Meanwhile, former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round bust Luke Joeckel could challenge for one of those spots. Either way we put it, Seattle’s pass protection in front of Russell Wilson has been an absolute dumpster fire.
If Seattle could nab a couple high-round picks and a starter-caliber player for Sherman, it’s a trade the team really might have to consider. No matter how good Sherman might be, his excellence last season only led the Seahawks to fledgling contention in the NFC. It’s something to think about before throwing this idea out the window completely.