According to a Tuesday report by CBSSports.com, the Seahawks are working to complete a long-term contract for All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman in advance of the May 8 draft. The Seahawks are reportedly prepared to make Sherman the NFL’s highest-paid corner with a deal that will surpass Darrelle Revis’s $12 million compensation for 2014. The question is by how much.
League sources told CBSSports.com that they anticipate the contract will exceed $13 million per season when finalized.
Although no deal is imminent, Sherman’s new agents, Ben Dogra and and Jimmy Sexton of CAA, have been in dialogue with the Seahawks “for quite some time.”
However, a different report later Tuesday claimed talks were not as close as LaConfora reported. Citing an anonymous source, Pro Football Talk wrote the report of progress was not accurate. A consensus hasn’t been reached on dollars or terms.
The discussions on a new contract began before the scouting combine. PFT’s source explained progress has been made but it’s “nowhere near what has been reported.”
A fifth-round draft pick in 2011, Sherman has vastly outperformed his rookie contract. He is scheduled to make $1.4 million next season after earning $555,000 last year.
Sherman is one of several priorities for the Seahawks, who are looking to secure the long-term services of S Earl Thomas, OT Russell Okung and QB Russell Wilson in the next year or so. A 2012 rookie, Wilson cannot re-negotiate until after the 2014 season under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
With a salary of $662,000, Wilson is the third-highest paid quarterback on Seattle’s roster with the club’s Monday trade for Terrelle Pryor from Oakland for a seventh-round draft choice. He will making $705,000 next season, and backup Tarvaris Jackson signed for another season at $1.2 million.
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