Will Sherman

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Above-replacement production at the G salary tier earns Will Sherman a C+ Contract Value Index. At $922,500 AAV on a two-year rookie deal, Sherman's contract sits squarely in the market value for a developmental fourth-year lineman still proving NFL viability—his 2025 season consisted of 7 games with a D- performance grade, the kind of limited and modest output you'd expect from a sixth-round pick operating on depth minutes. The Saints' recent roster moves have centered on defensive signings and linebacker acquisitions rather than offensive line reinforcement, suggesting the organization views Sherman as a contingency depth piece rather than a cornerstone solution at guard. As a 27-year-old in his fourth season, Sherman occupies the critical make-or-break window where organizational patience for raw developmental talent begins to wear thin; the fact that his first career start came in Week 17 against the Jets, a genuine milestone that generated feel-good local coverage, underscores that he remains fringe depth with something to prove. His CVI grade reflects the reality that this contract carries minimal risk for the Saints—it's short, affordable, and easily movable—but also minimal upside projection; Sherman's standing will hinge entirely on whether he can translate that Week 17 start into consistent training camp performance and a credible role in 2026, territory where the media is currently watching from a distance rather than endorsing a breakout narrative.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Will's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

On tape and on the stat sheet, Will Sherman earns a D- performance grade among G peers. The 27-year-old fourth-year player out of the 2021 sixth-round class logged just 7 games in the 2025 season, a minimal workload that underscores his standing as a depth option rather than a lock for regular snaps on an offensive line the Saints identified as needing reinforcement after an early-season 0-2 start. Sherman's most meaningful contribution came in Week 17 against the Jets, where he earned his first career start—a milestone that generated feel-good coverage from his alma mater but nowhere near enough on-field validation to shift his trajectory from fringe roster contributor to reliable starter. The underlying issue is clear: across those limited opportunities, he has not yet produced at a level that separates him from replacement-grade developmental linemen, and his $0.9 million contract reflects exactly that standing—a short-term, low-leverage arrangement appropriate for a roster-bubble player. Heading into 2026, Sherman's path forward depends almost entirely on his ability to seize training camp opportunities and prove he can hold up in competitive snaps; right now, the Saints' recent roster moves have centered on defense rather than offensive line reinforcement, a signal that the organization views his role as a depth safety net rather than a long-term solution.

How Will Compares at the Position

Will Sherman ranks 118th of 172 graded gs by performance. That slots Will between Doug Nester (D+) just ahead and Lecitus Smith (F) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Will Sherman's public perception sits at a steady C — tepid but not hostile, the kind of quiet narrative that typically surrounds a developmental guard still proving he belongs on an NFL roster. The dominant media framing casts him as a classic depth piece: a sixth-round pick out of the 2021 draft on a $0.9M contract who earned his first career start against the Jets in December 2025, a modest milestone that generated enough organizational attention to warrant a Week 15 spotlight but nowhere near enough to shift the broader perception of him as fringe roster depth. That measured media treatment aligns squarely with his on-field production grade, which sits at a D — his 2025 season stretched across 7 games without establishing him as a reliable contributor, and nothing in his profile yet suggests he's outperformed what a late-round developmental lineman is expected to deliver at this stage. The Saints' recent offseason activity — concentrated on defensive signings like Zxavian Harris, Martin Emerson, and Anfernee Jennings rather than any significant offensive line investment — does little to elevate Sherman's standing, while the team's prior offensive line tryouts following an 0-2 start underscored just how unsettled the position group remains. Heading into 2026 with the regular season still 126 days away, Sherman's narrative is essentially unwritten: he's a roster-bubble player whose perception will be shaped almost entirely by training camp performance, and right now the media is watching from a distance rather than making any definitive call.