What is Richard Sherman's trade value?

Whether a trade happens or not, all indications to this point in the offseason have been that the Seattle Seahawks are, at the very least, listening to offers for Richard Sherman.

More surprising than news of a perennial Super Bowl contender potentially being willing to moving its superstar cornerback, is the fact that both player and team have openly admitted to such dialogue.

Each side has made sure to add that a move remains unlikely, and perhaps the Seahawks are holding out for a deal that would blow them away.

But the many layers to this developing story, including a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicating that trade talks came at Sherman's request, can be taken as a sign that a blockbuster move is an entirely real possibility.

This begs the question: What could the Seahawks expect to get in return?

The immediate assumption within the football community was that any offer to pry the four-time Pro Bowler away from Seattle would have to start with a first-round pick in the 2017 draft.

And that's an entirely reasonable place to start. We're talking about well-established, elite cover man who can single-handedly shut down one side of the field. That type of talent, bordering on generational, is incredibly difficult to come by.

As much as Seattle would presumably like a top-32 pick that allows them to dip into a talented cornerback class and find Sherman's immediate replacement, it's no lock that his trade market value would be in that range.

Sherman turned 29 at the end of March. Every player is different, and there are numerous examples of cornerbacks who maintain a high level of play well into their 30s, but the rapid decline of another star defensive back will be fresh in the minds of personnel executives around the league.

Is there a chance that Sherman, as was the case with Darrelle Revis over the past few years, hits the downside of his career sooner rather than later? Of course there is.

So will a team be willing to give up a first-rounder in a draft stacked with secondary talent to get Sherman on a contract worth more than $22 million over the next two seasons? Not likely.

In the event a trade ends up taking shape, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise if the Seahawks come up short in their efforts to land a Day 1 selection at the end of the month.

Maybe a pair of mid-round selections gets it done. A package including a later pick and a young player would be an interesting option for a Seahawks team looking to extend its championship window. If they're set on a first-rounder, such a pick in 2018 might be the best they can do.

Another club setting its sights on Super Bowl contention, which is really the only kind of team that should be willing to pay up to bring in Sherman, shouldn't be parting with another highly valuable asset that can help them accomplish that goal.

The ideal scenario here, whether it's a team like the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, or Kansas City Chiefs, would be adding Sherman and a first-round player.

Doubling down on instant-impact talent could be what puts any one of those teams over the top.

Given Sherman's age, his apparent desire to be moved, and the need to address their salary cap situation, the Seahawks won't exactly be dealing from a position of strength.