The debate on Richard Sherman and the Bucs

There is much disappointment among many Bucs fans who cringe at the notion of Tampa Bay signing veteran cornerback Richard Sherman. Mind you, he hasn’t even been released yet by Seattle so this is merely speculative at the moment.

We can all agree, despite the absence of a pass rush, that the secondary didn’t help themselves throughout this past season. Brent Grimes was consistently decent but his return for 2018 is still up in the air and Vernon Hargreaves III is still finding himself at the NFL level. Is there anyone outside of those two to be really confident about? Shouldn’t the team build as much depth as possible for such a vulnerable position?

Some are concerned about Sherman’s Achilles injuries, feeling he is not the same player he was. That is a valid argument. However, Grimes also came off an Achilles injury in 2012 and still plays at a high level to this day. So why assume Sherman can’t come in and contribute right away?

The veteran corner allowed the lowest passer rating for three consecutive seasons heading into 2017, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s not like he forgot how to play the position.

Regardless of outside opinions, general manager Jason Licht would not be making a wrong move by bringing in Sherman if the opportunity presents itself. A Richard Sherman at 50 percent is better than no Richard Sherman on Tampa Bay’s cornerback depth chart.