Patriots Acquire CB Aqib Talib At Trade Deadline
The New England Patriots have acquired cornerback Aqib Talib from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a trade deadline deal. The Patriots traded a 2012 fourth-round pick to the Bucs for Talib and a 2013 seventh-round pick.
 Could the acquisition of Aqib Talib mean Devin McCourty will permanently move to safety? (FILE:USPresswire) |
Talib was a first round pick (20th overall) of the Buccaneers in 2008 and is currently serving a four game suspension for violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. He currently has one game to go on the suspension, and claims that the suspension was a result of taking an adderall pill without a subscription.
Talib was supposed to be reinstated on Monday after Tampa Bay returned from Oakland, but because his suspension is for four games and not four weeks, he will not be able to enter the Patriots facility until Nov. 12 after the team's week 10 match-up against Buffalo.
The 26-year-old is very good in press man cornerback, but is not as good a zone corner. He has good size, listed at 6'1 205 pounds, which helps him cover tight-ends. In the past four seasons, Talib has registered 53 passes defensed and 18 interceptions. He immediately gives the Patriots an upgrade at their weakest position on the roster.
Here is ESPN Scouts Inc.'s take:
"Talib is a big corner with very good top-end speed and the kind of foot quickness and agility youd expect from cornerbacks 3-4 inches shorter. He has a nice, clean, compact backpedal and can clear his hips to turn and run with receivers with no loss of relationship. He is quick in transition and drives on balls thrown in front of him with a good burst. He has a tendency to undercut routes and jump on the first move, making him susceptible to double cut routes. He shows good route recognition and the ability to read the quarterbacks eyes from off coverage."
With the problems the Patriots have had defending the pass this season, I am excited to see what Talib can bring to the secondary. Some consider a fourth-round pick steep, but if he buys into the "Patriot way", he could certainly be the upgrade that could help New England make another playoff run.
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