Aqib Talib Wants to Come Home

I’m told there had been trade conversations going on between
the Broncos & the 49ers for Aqib Talib. It doesn’t look like it’s going to
get done. Told Talib prefers to be released by Denver so he can chose his next team, his top choice is the New England Patriots per sources

— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 7, 2018

LET’S GO. Denver Broncos CB Aqib Talib wants to be released, and his top landing spot is the New England Patriots, according to ESPN.

When I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about Talib possibly getting moved, I thought the only way he’d wind up here is via trade. But now ESPN is reporting that we’re his top choice, and it makes too much sense. Talib was successful as hell in New England. The Patriots made him the corner that he is today, so why wouldn’t he want to come back? He wants to be part of a winning culture. With Malcolm Butler most likely on his way out, the Patriots need to bring someone in, so it’s a match made in heaven.

Denver is scrambling to create cap space to try and make a push for Kirk Cousins, so they kind of have to get rid of him. That leads me to believe that NE wouldn’t have to give up too much to get him. And given his current contract situation ($12M in 2018, $8M in 2019), I think I’d rather make a trade. Those numbers aren’t all that bad for a corner of Talib’s caliber.

But the argument in New England right now is centered around Talib vs. another corner who is about to hit the market as well; Richard Sherman. He and Talib are pretty neck and neck as far as top corners in the NFL go, with the tie probably going to Sherman, who is also younger. However, the Achilles injury that Richard Sherman suffered this past season scares me. And apparently he just got surgery pretty recently on his Achilles​ again, so who knows when he’s going to actually be on the field. The assurance of Talib being there to start the season (barring any offseason setbacks) has me leaning towards him over Sherman right now.

*UPDATE* As of 3/9/18 Aqib Talib was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2018 Fifth-Round Pick

-Nick Cherico (@NickCherico2)