Richard Sherman Podcast - FAN MAILBAG: Seahawks Super Bowl favorites? 49ers bounce back? Lamar’s final Ravens season?

Welcome back to the Richard Sherman Podcast.

It’s the offseason, you’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers.

First up from the mailbag: if you had to pick next year’s Super Bowl winner right now, who is it?

Seattle stays on top for me. They can replace the pieces that walked, Sam Darnold should cut the turnovers in year two, and the defense held strong even when key guys were in and out of the lineup.

Running back looks deep in this draft, so they can reload there. Next one: which bottom feeder can double its wins and surprise people?

The Giants have the best shot with John Harbaugh’s stability, a disruptive front when Dexter Lawrence is in the fold, and Jackson Dart adding juice at quarterback, though true playoff noise is still a stretch.

Speaking of Dexter Lawrence, he wants a trade. What’s his market, and whose side are you on?

I’m always on the players’ side. He’s a dominant nose, but not every scheme pays big for a zero or one, and asking out after free agency makes cap gymnastics harder; a post‑draft move is more plausible if a team misses on their guy.

Kirk Cousins lands in Vegas to mentor Fernando Mendoza and somehow keeps stacking guarantees. What do you think?

He’s a Hall of Fame businessman and a better quarterback than the public gives him credit for, and he’s perfect to model preparation for a rookie; that’s a very different setup than paying someone starter money and pretending it’s a mentorship.

Lamar Jackson’s deal got reworked and extension chatter popped up. Is this real drama?

Non‑story. He’s their franchise guy, they’ve got no succession plan, and he’s everything you want representing your team.

There’s talk of a ref lockout and replacement officials. How ugly could that get?

The league would lean on video to fix obvious misses because nobody wants another fiasco, and I’m for merit‑based postseason assignments over seniority; expect both sides to meet in the middle, with a contingency if needed.

NBC listed McVay, Reid, Shanahan, Mike Macdonald, and Sean Payton as the top five coaches. Any gripes?

You can argue the order, but that group fits, and it’s no accident the NFC West is heavy there.

Wild fan question: if the 49ers miss the playoffs, is Kyle Shanahan on the hot seat?

Absolutely not. A dozen-plus teams would clear a seat for him tomorrow, and his teams contend through injuries and turnover year after year.

Seattle hasn’t made splashy moves. Did John Schneider’s conservative approach shrink their window?

I don’t see it as conservative; they’ve kept core talent, have a bargain at quarterback, and Mike Macdonald’s defense attacks protection rules in ways that will hold up, so Schneider is building to the scheme.

Draft time: if you’re the Raiders, Jets, and Cardinals with top three picks, what’s your approach?

If you don’t have a quarterback, go get one; otherwise, build the trenches with a franchise tackle or edge and find corners later, because champions share dominant line play, a run game, and a quarterback who avoids mistakes.

Some mocks push Jeremiah Love to Arizona at three. Would you take a running back that high?

I wouldn’t. Elite production often comes from day two backs, the Cardinals have bigger holes, and trading back to add picks makes more sense.

If you were a GM, what team identity would you build?

Start with a great defense, powerful lines, and a run game; pair it with a quarterback who protects the ball, a true number one wideout, and tight ends that fit your personnel groupings.

The 49ers struggled with Seattle’s defense. What should their offense change?

They need body‑movers inside because Seattle’s front didn’t budge; you can try to scheme around it, but their speed and discipline make that hard, so upgrade the line or live with throwing a lot and hoping for takeaways.

Which wideouts today would be a tough cover for you in your prime?

You only know once you stand in front of them, but Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and JSN’s versatility demand respect; I faced different archetypes like Julio and Megatron, so styles matter.

Scouts once called you a fifth‑round reach. Fair or foul, and how much did you grow?

That analysis missed the mark; intangibles and fit can’t be timed, college didn’t showcase my strengths, and the NFL scheme did.

Toughest opponent emotionally and physically?

San Francisco, because that rivalry ran deep.

Biggest non‑division rivals during the L.O.B. era, and a favorite memory?

Green Bay and Carolina were frequent postseason hurdles, and my favorite memories are the locker‑room stretches where everyone moved in lockstep toward the same goal.

When did 49ers fans win you over?

On the road in 2019, hearing them take over buildings while our defense rolled and I got back to form after injury.

Any regrets about the Crabtree quote?

None; I stand by it.

We appreciate the questions and the support—Richard, take us home.

You could be anywhere, and you’re here with us. Stick around for our draft night reaction and more guests—see you next time.