San Francisco 49ers: Looking at the good in Sherman signing

The San Francisco 49ers recently inked their first player in free agency. Let’s dig into why this is a good signing for the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers started the 2018 NFL free agency period with a big bang, landing former rival Seattle Seahawks corner Richard Sherman.

As highly controversial as this move may seem to many fans, this should be seen as good move.

First, however, let’s talk about his contract details. Sherman, who acted as his own agent, agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal filled with numerous contract bonuses.

Along with his $2 million base salary, he will receiver a $3 million signing bonus, $2 million 46-man roster bonus, $1 million playing time incentive and a $3 million bonus if he makes the Pro Bowl.

The reason for this is because Sherman is coming off a severe Achilles injury and he is turning 30, so the 49ers needed some precaution with this signing.

If Sherman disappoints, then the contract saves them some money. If he turns out for the better, then the 49ers got themselves one heck of a player.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

The 49ers signed Sherman and didn’t give up much on cap space either. For 2018, the 49ers still have over $64 million available to attract other free agents as well as the rookies that will be coming in via the draft.

So contract and money details aside, the San Francisco 49ers got themselves one heck of a ballplayer in Sherman.

Here are some of Sherman’s rankings since Seattle drafted him back in 2011:

1st in interceptions with 32.

1st in passes defensed with 99.

1st in completion percentage allowed with 47.4 percent.

1st in passer rating allowed with 50.9.

Why wouldn’t you want a corner that has produced all of these numbers?

Sure, he has played for one of the 49ers’ most bitter rivals. Sure, he ate a huge turkey leg on the 49ers logo on Thanksgiving. Sure, he talked a lot of trash, especially to Michael Crabtree. Sure, he was extremely annoying as a Seahawk. Sure, he suffered an Achilles injury that has kept him out for months. And sure, you may hate him.

But he’s no longer the enemy.

The Seahawks have been crumbling recently, letting many of their core players go without clear replacements. The Legion of Boom could become the Legion of Doom depending on the futures of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

More from San Francisco 49ers

• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
• 49ers sign TE Daniel Helm off the Buccaneers practice squad
• 49ers: Jordan Reed could miss up to two months, will be placed on IR

Sherman signing with the 49ers was clearly a need based signing, not to gloat or show Seattle up.

Seattle didn’t want him, the 49ers needed a cornerback, Aqib Talib didn’t want to get traded here, so Sherman was the perfect fit.

Not only is he a great playmaker, and we will see how he performs after his recovers from injury, but he immediately becomes the leader of this defense.

We talk about bridge quarterbacks very often. The 49ers had one in Brian Hoyer earlier last season for rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard. But Jimmy Garoppolo came in and had immediate success.

Garoppolo was under Tom Brady, who can be viewed as a legendary bridge quarterback who was supposed to pass the torch to Garoppolo. That didn’t happen, but what did happen was that Sherman has become the bridge cornerback here.

The 49ers don’t have much experience as this position, which was why free agency was the chance to bring in some veterans. Ahkello Witherspoon, a six-foot-three cornerback like Sherman, will definitely benefit from Sherman’s leadership skills.

Sherman builds the perfect bridge for Witherspoon to cross so that maybe one day, he becomes a household name at corner. A superstar corner is something the 49ers haven’t had in years.

Whether 49er fans or any fan likes this move or not, it won’t bother Sherman. He doesn’t seem like the type of person who’s going to let an injury like this end his career.

Just ask Joe Thomas, who got absolutely burned by Sherman on Twitter earlier today.

Next: 49ers Should Sign Allen Robinson

Imagine the scenes if Sherman plays above expectations. Imagine if Sherman picks of Russell Wilson in Seattle or here in the Bay.

He may talk trash, but he backs it up like no other. The 49ers got themselves a good one.