Joe Thomas: Sherman's ego forced him to take subpar deal with 49ers

Richard Sherman's agreement to join the San Francisco 49ers reverberated across league circles, and you can count one future Hall of Famer who is empathetic toward the veteran cornerback.

Without an agent, the former Seattle Seahawks star reportedly signed an incentive-laden three-year deal worth up to $39 million, and Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas feels Sherman may have been taken advantage of by the 49ers.

Related: Sherman admits feeling 'vengeful' toward Seahawks

"You really feel bad for Richard Sherman, but this is clearly a case of ego getting in the way of his pocket book. He got absolutely crushed on this contract while working as his own agent," Thomas tweeted Monday.

Sherman will earn $2 million in base salary for the 2018 season, and will get a $3-million signing bonus along with a $2-million roster bonus on the first day of training camp. However, he'll gain $1 million in incentives if he makes the Pro Bowl and another $2 million for All-Pro honors. As such, Thomas believes the 49ers secured a low-risk, high-reward scenario for themselves.

Negotiating a contract without the assistance of an agent is a point of pride for the four-time Pro Bowler. Time will tell if Sherman secured a favorable deal for himself, but Thomas' analysis could give impending free agents something to think about ahead of their own contract discussions.