Report: Arizona Cardinals won’t tender WR Trent Sherfield
Mar 12, 2021, 1:22 PM | Updated: 1:22 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Trent Sherfield (16) pulls in a touchdown catch as Oakland Raiders cornerback Nick Nelson (23) defends during the first half of an an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Special teams gunner and receiver Trent Sherfield will not be tendered by the Arizona Cardinals, allowing him to enter free agency without restriction, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Cardinals signed Sherfield as an undrafted rookie in 2018, and he established himself as a depth piece who recorded 28 catches on 48 targets for 340 yards and a touchdown over the past three seasons.
Last season, Sherfield played only 79 (7%) of the team’s offensive snaps.
Sherfield indeed was a valuable player on special teams, ranking sixth on the Cardinals with 222 reps. But he got pushed further out of sight as a receiver behind DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald, Andy Isabella and KeeSean Johnson.
RELATED STORIES
Sherfield is among several core special teams players who entered the offseason as restricted free agents. Linebackers Kylie Fitts, Zeke Turner and Dennis Gardeck are among the others.
NFL teams can keep restricted free agents by first placing a tender on them.
Though teams can place different tenders on players depending on their value, any tender would commit at least $2 million for that player to return next season, according to Pelissero.
With the salary cap crunch this upcoming season, it’s possible Arizona could retain a player like Sherfield for less than any of those tender amounts.
Free agency begins next Wednesday.
