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Cowboys Problem Swap: Trade Orlando Scandrick for Richard Sherman?

By Reid Hanson

Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cowboys trade rumors circulated during the draft that both Orlando Scandrick and Richard Sherman were on the trade block. Would a simple swap of players heal wounds?

The Cowboys made some noise during Day 2 of the NFL draft when they allegedly put veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick on the trade block. After selecting Chidobe Awuzie in the second round, Scandrick became expendable. The expendability status only grew when the Cowboys added Jourdan Lewis in the third round and Marquez White in the sixth.

Though denied by the Cowboys front office, the rumors cannot be ignored and many in the local media are proclaiming the “writing is on the wall” for Scandrick.

Scandrick, already a tough player to get along with, will no doubt play with a chip on his shoulder and an attitude to boot. Some see this is a good thing (admittedly, that’s me) but others see this a cancer on a young impressionable unit. It’s the latter group that’s calling for a remedy. And a trade with another team in a similar situation may be just the cure needed..

Disfunction in Seattle

In the Pacific Northwest things have been tumultuous for a much longer time. Yesterday, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham wrote an in-depth and rather controversial article on the rift between All-Pro cornerback, Richard Sherman, and team in which he plays, the Seattle Seahawks.

Wickersham paints an aggressively ugly picture of the locker room in Seattle. It shows an offense and defense separated by an enormous chasm of resentment and jealousy. On one side it’s Pete Carrol and Russell Wilson and on the other it’s the always-outspoken Richard Sherman.

The story has ill-will dating back even before the infamous goal line play-call blunder in the Super Bowl. But it was that play that would push the rift to the next level and lead to irreconcilable differences.

Not surprisingly, the Seahawks players and organization are denying the legitimacy of the story. Much like the post-draft Cowboys, the Seahawks are in repair mode and trying to co-exist with their top cornerback.

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Problem Swap

When Jon Machota reported in the Dallas Morning News that Sherman imagined himself playing for the Dallas Cowboys, it was natural for the Sherman-to-Dallas speculation to reignite. After all, the Cowboys defense is modeled after the Seattle defense and Richard Sherman is tailor-made for single high safety coverage.

With Romo now coming off the books, and the low cost of Dak Prescott’s rookie deal, the Cowboys can afford a little high-end spending in a player like Richard Sherman.

The Cowboys are absolutely loaded with nickel cornerbacks and are in greater need of players to cover the boundary.

Equal Value

Orlando Scandrick is in no way the caliber of cornerback as Richard Sherman. Even at 29-years old, Sherman is a ball-hawking pro bowler that can be left completely alone on an island. Scandrick, rated 27th by Pro Football Focus last season, is seemingly allergic to interceptions and subsequently a target by many opposing QBs interested in consequence-free gambles.

What would play in the Cowboys’ favor in this is the desperation in Seattle. Seattle received no interest in their high demands earlier in the offseason and if things are as intense as ESPN reported, letting Sherman go may be an addition by subtraction type of situation.

If Seattle swapped Sherman for Scandy, they’d take a hit on the field but repair their locker room. Additionally, Scandrick is on the books for under $6 million the next three seasons while Sherman will cost over $13 million the next two seasons.

Next: How Good is New Cowboys CB Nolan Carroll?

The Cowboys would have to rework contracts to make this work and the Seahawks would need to be desperate to fix their locker room, but a mutually beneficial swap could be a possibility. Truth be told, this a highly unlikely situation that would benefit Dallas more than Seattle and while fun to discuss this time of year, focusing on finding a pass-rusher should be the priority of Cowboys Nation.

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