New England, Miami, Indianapolis and Denver all have a vested interest this off-season.
New England Cornerback Aqib Talib looms as the key player for the position heading into the 2014 free-agency period.
While the upcoming NFL draft is packed full of stars in the position, Talib, and others, should be key pieces on the chess-board between all teams.
The 28-year-old Talib will be highly coveted by many sides, however, the Washington Redskins are likely to be out of the running, after they gave DeAngelo Hall a fourt-year extension to his current deal.
It is in the best interests of Talib and the New England Patriots to do a deal that will ensure the seven year veteran continues to play in red, white and blue.
However, if another team comes calling with a better offer Talib simply cannot turn down it comes at the best possible time for New England as they should be able to fill the hole left through the draft with Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard, a cousin of Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, and Oklahoma State’sJustin Gilbert two of the best going around, but they are seen as first-round picks such is the hype around them.
Talib earned $5 million for his one-off deal last season, but he could command as much as $11 elsewhere, this and a potential sticking point of the structure of a per-game roster bonus payout in a new deal, could mean the Patriots and Talib will need to sit down and talk hard about any new contract that is drawn up.
Other top corners for their teams heading to free agency include Tennessee’s Alterraun Verner, Miami’s Brent Grimes, Indianapolis’ Vontae Davis and Denver’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
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