By MARQUES EVERSOLL
The Green Bay Packers have an enormous hole at cornerback after shipping Damarious Randall off to Cleveland.
Fortunately, this year’s draft boasts a solid cornerback class, but the Packers seem unlikely to rely on even more youth at the position with to-be second-year player Kevin King as their No. 1 cover man. Basic math would suggest that the Packers will aggressively pursue help at the position via the free-agent market.
The big name is Richard Sherman. And believe it or not, the Packers have already made that call, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
I spoke to Richard Sherman last night, he told me after being informed of his release by the #Seattle Seahawks, he has received preliminary interest from the #49ers, #Titans, #Lions, #Raiders, #Texans, #Bucs and #Packers. https://t.co/QtAB9T3sOt
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 10, 2018
Meanwhile, Sherman’s first visit is with the San Francisco 49ers.
Previously, the 49ers were considered to be the favorites to sign former Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, according to DraftAnalyst.com’s Tony Pauline. If the 49ers land Sherman, perhaps that takes them out of the running for Johnson.
And that’s where it gets interesting: BobMcGinnFootball.com’s Bob McGinn mentioned Johnson as the cornerback the Packers covet in free agency. McGinn wrote that a source expected the Packers to make a “strong run” at the 28-year-old cornerback.
Johnson makes a lot of sense for the Packers. (He’ll also make a lot of dollars.)
Spotrac estimates Johnson’s market value at $13.6 million per year. If they’re going to be in contention to sign Johnson, then they’ll likely have to make a corresponding move with wide receivers Jordy Nelson and/or Randall Cobb to free up som cap room.
The Los Angeles Rams just traded for Marcus Peters (Chiefs) and Aqib Talib (Broncos) in the past week, bringing an end to Johnson’s run with the Rams, who paid Johnson more than $30 million the past two seasons on the franchise tag. With Johnson set to hit the free-agent market, the Packers sent their most experienced corner (Randall) to the Browns.
Since we’re just days away from kicking off free agency, let’s just throw this out for fun: Which free-agent corners make the most sense for the Packers?
- Trumaine Johnson. (6-2, 213, 28 years old) — He’s going to command a lot of money, but if the Packers have the room to pay him, then they absolutely should. I think he’s the free-agent corner that could best help the Packers. He’s a big guy, similar to Kevin King, and still has enough juice to play at a high level. The Packers are paying peanuts to the cornerback position right now, and they need a veteran in that room. Sam Shields was the only big contract amongst the cornerbacks before (we thought) his career came to an end. Maybe it’s time the Packers spend some money at the position.
- Aaron Colvin. (6-0, 193, 26 years old) — Overshadowed by arguably the best cornerback duo in the league — Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye — Colvin will have plenty of suitors this week. Although he doesn’t have a single interception in four years, Colvin was one of two players (Marshon Lattimore) to not give up a touchdown last season, while playing at least 500 snaps in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s played primarily in the slot in Jacksonville, but that was Casey Hayward’s role in Green Bay, too, and look how that turned out for him.
- Richard Sherman. (6-3, 195, 29 years old) — The more I think about Richard Sherman, the more I come back to the fact that I have no idea what to make of this guy. He’s going on 30 years old, and just had surgery on a ruptured Achilles. At the same time, it’s Richard freaking Sherman. I remember talking to Kevin King in training camp about how much film he used to study of the 6-3 cornerback. It would make a lot of sense to have Sherman in house as a mentor to King. This one is interesting. Who knows?
I didn’t include Malcolm Butler, formerly of the New England Patriots, because he falls short of the Packers’ traditional “thresholds” at cornerback. (He’s short.)
Perhaps the Packers could look at bringing back Davon House on a short-term deal, or sign a mid-level veteran such as Prince Amukamara. However, the way the cornerback room stacks up right now, I think they could be real players to add a top-end corner before the draft. They need one.
