RENTON -- While the Seahawks have been remarkably open about the availability of cornerback Richard Sherman on the trade market, general manager John Schneider said on Monday that they've pretty much moved beyond trade discussions at this point.
"Right now we've kind of moved past it," Schneider said. "If somebody calls and goes crazy with something we'll discuss it again."
The Seahawks have said all along that a deal for Sherman is somewhat unlikely. He is due over $11 million in guaranteed money this season and the upcoming NFL Draft is particularly deep at the cornerback position, which in essence lowers Sherman's value on the market.
With the draft set to begin on Thursday, the end of the first round could easily be the de facto deadline for dealing Sherman.
"Yeah, I mean, I think it's pretty much on us right now," Schneider said of a deadline for such a deal.
"We would consider it because it's been a mutual thing. It's OK. We feel like it would clear cap room and we would be able to get younger. But that's the only reason we'd do it. The guy is one of the top cornerbacks in the league. You don't just give him away, you know."
Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have both been open in discussion Sherman's availability to other teams. At the NFL owners' meetings last month, Carroll said they had fielded calls from other teams about Sherman before reiterating he didn't expect a move to happen.
"There have been some teams that have called and so we’ve talked about it," Carroll said. "He’s extremely important to our football team, I don’t see anything happening at all."
Carroll also noted that Sherman had a rough year last year. Sherman twice blew up at coordinators on the sidelines during games. He publicly criticized offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell's play-calling after Seattle's win over the Los Angeles Rams in December and doubled-down on that criticism later that week.
"Richard went through a lot last year, most of it self-inflicted," Carroll said last month. "He got out there and he was in the midst of a season that was really challenging for him."
It created a difficult situation for the team to manage this offseason. It's also unquestionably a big reason why the Seahawks were willing to listen to offers for a top-tier cornerback that actually has a pretty manageable contract for a player of his stature.
Nevertheless, Schneider said the two sides have spoken several times and that they feel they are in a good place now.
He’s here today working," Schneider said. "Earl (Thomas)’s here. Kam (Chancellor)’s here. So we are all just at a very good place and it’s one of those things that if it works out, it works out, if it doesn’t work out it doesn’t work out and everybody is okay with it right now. He met with Pete last week, they had another great conversation, so it’s just been about like he may see it as a fresh start for him. And we may see it as a way to clear so cap room and get younger. But neither side is super urgent about it if that makes sense."
Whether the two sides truly will be able to move beyond the issues of last season and the ensuing trade discussion remains to be seen. It certainly appears that they will be joined at the hip for at least one more season in Seattle.
Photo Credit: Seahawks general manager John Schneider meets with the media ahead of the start of the NFL Draft. (photo by Curtis Crabtree / Sports Radio 950 KJR)