Joe Mixon eyeing his next free agent target for Bengals

After starting the week off by trying to recruit soon-to-be free agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins to the Bengals, Joe Mixon has his next target.

The Bengals’ second-year running back now has his sights set on cornerback Richard Sherman joining the Bengals.

Sherman was released by the Seahawks on Friday following seven strong years with the Seahawks. Seattle may look to bring Sherman back on a contract paying him less money than he was due in 2018 on his former contract, but for now, Sherman is a free agent.

Sherman tore his Achilles in 2017 and ended the season on Injured Reserve. During his time in Seattle, Sherman racked up 32 interceptions, 2 pick sixes, 104 passes defended, 5 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 1.0 sack and 286 tackles. Because of his injury, Sherman couldn’t be traded as he’s not ready to pass a physical, which is a standard part of any NFL trade.

Sherman was released around the same time the Bengals informed Adam Jones they wouldn’t be exercising the option on his contract and that he would need to take a pay cut or hit free agency next week. Considering the Bengals aren’t interested in starting Jones and his role would be as a nickel cornerback and returner if he were to return, I can’t imagine the Bengals being interested in signing Sherman. The team wants to develop its young talent like William Jackson and Darqueze Dennard. Not to mention, the Bengals gave Dre Kirkpatrick a massive contract extension last offseason.

Sherman is also sure to get a very hefty contract from whatever team signs him, so considering what we know about the Bengals, I don’t see Mixon’s efforts bringing Sherman to the Bengals.

There was also the 2011 beef between Sherman and A.J. Green when following Sherman’s first NFL start — which happened to come against the Bengals — the Seahawks cornerback said Green was “all noise-talking and bad routes,” and then labeled him as “one of the most overrated receivers out there.” The beef has since been squashed though as Green said he didn’t care about it and Sherman named Green as one of the five best receivers in the NFL in a 2016 piece in The Players’ Tribune.

Green can run every kind of route in the tree, but his staple route is the post. He’s made a living off the deep post. What makes that route so dangerous is that Green combines speed with length. Because of his wingspan, his “window” is huge. Even if you anticipate the post and you’re fast enough to keep up with him stride-for-stride out of his break, he can still extend his arms and create enough separation to make the catch.

Green reciprocated the appreciation in his own article in The Players’ Tribune, also saying Sherman was one of the top five cornerbacks he’s faced in the NFL.

As I said with Watkins, Sherman is not coming to the Bengals. With that said, keep it up, Joe! I applaud the effort even if it goes nowhere. But really, put your energy on the offensive line! Maybe try hitting up Nate Solder.

Update: Mixon has responded to my request for him to look into recruiting offensive linemen, but, you might not be too happy with his choice. He’s targeting his former Oklahoma teammate Orlando Brown in the draft.