Richard Sherman Recruiting Earl Thomas to 49ers; Says Cowboys Will Be in the Mix

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said Wednesday he's actively recruiting former Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas to join the Niners when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March.

Sherman told Matt Barrows of The Athletic the 49ers will face competition from the Dallas Cowboys, and he expects Thomas to join Dallas if the teams' financial offers are similar.

In December, the four-time Pro Bowl selection said he was willing to serve as a liaison between San Francisco's front office and Thomas, but he understood money would be a crucial factor.

"This is a pretty attractive destination as is. But, you know, money is the best recruiter," Sherman told reporters. "I'll give my two cents. I'll give my best recruiting pitch, and if they say, 'Hey, we have $7 for you,' it's not going to matter. I can do the worst recruiting pitch and if they pay him like a top player, money talks."

They were key cogs in the Seahawks' Legion of Boom secondary from 2011 through Sherman's exit following the 2017 season.

The era was highlighted by Seattle's triumph over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Thomas tallied 22 total tackles, five passes defended and three interceptions across four appearances in 2018 before his season ended in early October because of a fractured leg.

The 29-year-old University of Texas product has long been linked to potentially joining the Cowboys. The speculation grew louder after he was witnessed telling Dallas head coach Jason Garrett, "If y'all have the chance, come get me" following a game in December 2017.

Although Cowboys owner Jerry Jones couldn't mention Thomas by name while under contract with the Seahawks, he confirmed last week the team will look to upgrade at safety in free agency, per ESPN's Todd Archer.

"Yes. That's about all I'll say, but yes," he said.

While the Niners and Cowboys appear like the early favorites for Thomas, the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams are among the other teams likely to seek safety help during the offseason.