Richard Sherman believes he is the best cornerback in the NFL, and the Seattle Seahawks obviously agree. Sherman signed a four-year, $57 million extension with the Seahawks last week that includes $40 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid corner in the league.
Cardinals DB Patrick Peterson thinks he is worth more than Sherman.
Peterson and the Arizona Cardinals are in the process of negotiating an extension to his rookie deal. When asked if he’s worth more than Sherman, Peterson had the following to say.
“We’ll see,” he said, via ESPN.com. “Got to ask the Cardinals. I mean, I think I am but at the end of the day both sides have to agree to terms and we’ll see what those terms are and hopefully sooner than later.”
Peterson is a versatile player who has excelled in the kick and punt return games and even played some wide receiver. He’s a two-time All Pro who has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons. Still, he’s probably the only one who thinks the Cardinals might give him more money than Sherman got.
“I’m making OK money right now, but I’m just not making (Sherman’s) money right now,” Peterson added. “I think cornerbacks are definitely worth the dollars that they get because now this league is a passing league. You need that shutdown corner to lock down one side of the field, or like myself, go out there the entire field.”
Sherman has been criticized for being used on one side of the field instead of shadowing his opponents’ best receiver, which is what Peterson seemed to be alluding to.
Aqib Talib was considered the best free agent cornerback on the market this offseason, and he got $26 million guaranteed from the Denver Broncos. That’s $14 million less than the Seahawks gave Sherman. Peterson is likely to get closer to Talib money than Sherman money.
