If Aqib Talib goes, what should Pats do at CB? Trade? Draft? Free Agent?

Talib is getting an awful lot love here for being PFF's #93 ranked CB overall and 87th ranked CB in coverage. https://www.profootballfocus.com/da...e=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1

The first thing BB has to decide is if the DB improvement was Talib's play by himself or if it was more by allowing McC to play S and probably more importantly by taking Arrington out of the outside CB equation. PFF's rankings indicate to me that it was the latter. Certainly the 93rd ranked CB isn't worth anything close to a Franchise Tag. Consider that Talib allowed 8.2 yds/target with the Patriots. For comparison, Dennard, a rookie, allowed 7.2 yds/target. Talib played well enough but his real contribution, from my perspective, was taking Arrington's place.

Talib adds value but only at a reasonable price. Sciz has listed a number of FA CBs and most graded out better than Talib & some (Grimes) were injured most of last year. I wouldn't mind seeing Talib back with an incentive deal, but at the same time I see no reason why BB can't try to fill the position in FA for similar money with a similar or even somewhat better player. Surely, BB will be looking for alternatives to throwing a ton of money at Talib.

Target a free safety and move McCourty to CB. That gives the Patriots 2 CBs in Dennard and McCourty. That is really the only move they can do if they do not sign a top CB.

Or maybe count on Ras-I Dowling? I would rather not.

randomk1 said:

Settle down ya'll. We still have Dowling. 3 years in the system. #1 CB tools. It will all come together this year.

Click to expand...

From your keyboard to God's eyes.

Panic
10 char

Nunchucks said:

Target a free safety and move McCourty to CB. That gives the Patriots 2 CBs in Dennard and McCourty. That is really the only move they can do if they do not sign a top CB.

Or maybe count on Ras-I Dowling? I would rather not.

Click to expand...

This might just be the way to go. Adding a top FA safety would be a lot less expensive than adding a top FA CB, by about $4MM/yr.

Every one on Sciz's list of FA CB's have their own major question marks,, either they are coming off of major injuries, have performance issues, or want too much money. As to potential draft picks, only D.Miliner carries a first round grade and he'll be gone hours before the Pats pick....and relying on a second round or lower pick to come in and become a productive instant starter is not a scenario I'm looking forward to, ESPECIALLY when our other CB is just going into his 2nd year. Talent is one thing, but you can't manufacture experience.

As for getting under the cap, it should be noted that signing someone to a 5yr $50MM cantract doesn't mean the Pats will be using $10MM of this year's cap space. Take the example of Santonio Holmes; The Jets signed him to that kind of deal 2 years ago, and thus far his cap number for those years has been $1.4MM and 3.4MM respectively

Granted there are consequences for that over the last 3 years, but 2 years is a lifetime in the NFL especially in the waning days of the Tom Brady era. It also should be noted that in past threads realistic and fairly conservative extensions/restructures of just 3 contacts can gain the Pats another $18MM in cap room. I doubt the Pats would do all 3, but the possibility is there. The main point being that the $14MM available to sign FA's is NOT set in stone.

BOTTOM LINE- the combination of creating more cap room and signing FA's to contracts that will lower their cap consequence in the first 2 years of the contract MAY give the Pats more options then it might seem on the surface

Counting on Ras-I Dowling is like counting on Shawn Crable.

chevss454 said:

Talib is getting an awful lot love here for being PFF's #93 ranked CB overall and 87th ranked CB in coverage. https://www.profootballfocus.com/da...e=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1

Click to expand...

Obligatory "PFF is crap" comment.

if talib goes...what should we do?

Brady_to_Moss said:

Trade? Get one through FA ( Grimes, DRC ect) or draft? What do you think would happen.


I just really hope this coaching staff finally sees that they need a semi big time CB back there with all the other gunk on the roster at the CB position.

If he goes i would like to see grimes here. Could come cheaper coming off an injury. DRC will fetch good $$ so i don't see him even though i want him here. And a trade..not sure who's on the block if any decent ones

Click to expand...

IMO Revis will get traded to Seattle for Flynn and some type of draft pick package. I think we should target Browner if that happens he is on the books for $550K in 2013 and a RFA in 2014. So we could use the money elsewhere. Think he could be had for a 3rd in 2014.

Jax said:

IMO Revis will get traded to Seattle for Flynn and some type of draft pick package. I think we should target Browner if that happens he is on the books for $550K in 2013 and a RFA in 2014. So we could use the money elsewhere. Think he could be had for a 3rd in 2014.

Click to expand...

While Revis healthy improves any team, were I Petey Carroll I would not be jacked & pumped to make a major cap investment in my defensive backfield where I'm already young & above average. I'd send Flynn elsewhere.

if talib goes...what should we do?

PatsWickedPissah said:

While Revis healthy improves any team, were I Petey Carroll I would not be jacked & pumped to make a major cap investment in my defensive backfield where I'm already young & above average. I'd send Flynn elsewhere.

Click to expand...

The combo of Revis and Sherman is a defensive backfield that makes them an instant SB contender.

Helmet2Helmet said:

This type of post makes me cringe. The Patriots have had an awesome run the past decade+ and are currently a top organization. But saying that Belichick trading for him to come here is some kind of gift for him and he should just give up money to play here? Give me a break, get off your high horse. You know nothing about Talib or his life, stop acting like you do.

Click to expand...

I never ONCE said that "he should give up big money to stay here." That's ridiculous. Now you are just making things up. I know for a fact that I would never consider that, mainly because I don't really want him here unless it's for a sweetheart deal. I don't think he should pass anything up. I said that if "he doesn't go to another team and the highest bidder, I will lose all hope for what America stands for in the year 2013." You need to try and comprehend before jumping to conclusions.

I said that he and his agent would take advantage of this "gift" which is his reclamation and re-emergence as a somewhat reliable CB (not that I necessarily agree with that myself, but that isn't the point).

It was a "gift" for Talib.

He was in danger of getting cut, spent last summer in a high profile gun shooting case, and was eventually suspended for 4 games for PEDs. He has punched someone on his team before, had a shady career at KU when he played there, and has been considered lazy and as someone who wants to do his own thing....what else do I need to know about him or his character, LOL?

All of the sudden he plays in about 1/2 of the snaps here from the end of November on and suddenly gets 7/9 games on national TV stages during a major playoff run for the whole world to see his sudden "turnaround" which they credited him 100% for the secondary's improvement. How isn't that a "gift?"

We all know that isn't even close to true, and that he didn't even play that much. He was injured with at least 2 different injuries, and stood on the sideline in his one and only chance at going to the Super Bowl.

How is this not a "gift" that he and his agent should take advantage of? Please tell me...Talib went from the outhouse to the penthouse during the short span of the holiday season, and he benefitted greatly from his 2nd chance opportunity. I know I'd probably be taking advantage of something like that, and that's exactly why I don't expect him back, however the world will still be spinning with Talib here.

Re: if talib goes...what should we do?

Jax said:

The combo of Revis and Sherman is a defensive backfield that makes them an instant SB contender.

Click to expand...

Of course, but the combo of 6'3" Sherman and 6'4" Browner in front and Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas as the safeties pretty much already has them there, and at an exceptionally reasonable price.

You could make the argument that Revis + anyone would instantly make them a SB contender if you think about it.

Seattle is definitely already well on their way to currently being a SB contender. Many actually had them chosen at the beginning of the playoffs a month or two ago.

randomk1 said:

Settle down ya'll. We still have Dowling. 3 years in the system. #1 CB tools. It will all come together this year.

Click to expand...

LMAO this has to be a troll post

Glass IR Dowling FTW :rocker:

Heard Ras is bringing the legendary pass rusher known as Shawn Crable back to get us that lombardi

I see the very real possibility of using the transition tag on Talib..

I am a grimes fan if talb is gone

CB, IMO, should be a position that's looked at through FA. S should be looked at through the draft. Depending on how Dennard's trial goes, and how he progresses, he has CB1 ability. Arrington is not going to break the bank to re-sign but, honestly, there are a few names that will be available in the later rounds that, when they come into form, would be better options that him if selected. So, essentially, CB1/2 should be addressed through FA and the "star" corner should be address later on in the draft or by re-signing Arrington.

Can't you take the tag off someone before a certain time frame? If that's the case why not tag him now?

Brady_to_Moss said:

Can't you take the tag off someone before a certain time frame? If that's the case why not tag him now?

Click to expand...

Even if you could do that, what purpose would it serve?

A) There is no advantage to tagging before the deadline.

B) Yup, you got it. If we tag Talib, we can then look around for better choices. If we sign someone, we can remove the tag.

C) If we tag Talib and he signs the tag and then we find someone better, we can then trade Talib for a 7th or whatever.

D) For me, the question is which tag to use.

Brady_to_Moss said:

Can't you take the tag off someone before a certain time frame? If that's the case why not tag him now?

Click to expand...

Brady2Moss said:

LMAO this has to be a troll post

Glass IR Dowling FTW :rocker:

Heard Ras is bringing the legendary pass rusher known as Shawn Crable back to get us that lombardi

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what Dowling's deal has been, other than he's shown some talent while being terribly injury prone.

There's always a chance he could stay healthy, and if that's the case we're in the bonus. Obviously no one should be depending upon him, and I wouldn't imagine that their hopes are too high at this point.

He's still on the roster though and he does have talent. Maybe he just had a bad luck streak of injuries? Weirder things have happened. If he's ever able to see the field for any extended length of time we could be in much better shape.