This is a growing trend these days for patsfans posters, and probably even Patriot fans in general. While I would love to see Talib resigned, I really would not want to see them go much higher than about 7 million per year myself, absolutely no higher than 7.5 on average, although the high CB market in general will certainly almost guarantee that someone will offer him more. If not for the market of overpriced CB's, I wouldn't even want to give him that. If not for the overpriced market, 6 million average would be my bottom line number. As mayoclinic has mentioned, incentives could come into play heavily, which could work for both sides.
While Talib has certainly factored into the equation, I wonder if it's nearly as much as everyone assumes? More importantly, I wonder what Belichick thinks about the popular thought that Talib has totally changed the makeup of the secondary?
Dennard should be one of the starters there on the outside next year for sure. The question of course will be whether or not Belichick feels that Talib was the straw that stirred the change of the secondary makeup, or whether he thinks that there were many factors involved (my theory and one that I have a feeling he'd agree with). It certainly isn't out of the equation to think that we will allow Talib to pass and once again try to find a suitable CB on the other side, either via the draft again, FA, or even possibly Dowling.
I'd love to have him back, and I hope that he doesn't have his sights on the moon as far as financial compensation. If he does, he will not be returning...4th round pick or not, it won't matter.
All in all, I have a feeling that many are overvaluing Talib's contributions to the resurgence of the secondary play. Only time will tell what happens, but I certainly would not place his worth over that of Wes Welker..