Should the Pats consider signing Aqib Talib long-term?

[supafly]

Aqib Talib is expendable just like Asante Samuel.

Okay thanks, because I haven't been suggesting that throughout the entire thread or anything. I am glad that you cleared that up for me.

The New England Patriots have other alternatives to unrestricted free agency for the cornerback position:

It's called the NFL Draft.

I'm not sure why it matters what method is used in trying to obtain a player, or why you're pointing this out to me? I didn't have a stance either way, just pointed out that they may end up being able to run the same kind of secondary scheme with some level of success if Talib chooses to move on.

The concern that the majority of the forum would have is the poor drafting strategy that has been used lately, so I don't think you'll have much luck in attempting to convince too many here that Aqib Talib will be replaced effectively with a rookie draft pick, but yes--of course the draft is always going to be an option. I was thinking more along the lines of a reasonably priced veteran CB much like this year in free agency, but they may choose to go both routes.

 

[ATippett56]

The concern that the majority of the forum would have is the poor drafting strategy that has been used lately.

That did not stop the New England Patriots from selecting two tight ends in the 2010 NFL Draft when the New England Patriots organization expended numerous draft selections, including two first round picks, at the aforementioned offensive position from 2000 to 2009.

 

[mgteich]

I don't understand your point.

Are you suggesting that one option is to not sign a top free agent (like Talib) and rely on a couple of top rookies? I really don't understand your point.

IMHO, the patriots will look to free agency to find a veteran corner. That veteran may be Talib or another top corner.

That did not stop the New England Patriots from selecting two tight ends in the 2010 NFL Draft when the New England Patriots organization expended numerous draft selections, including two first round picks, at the aforementioned offensive position from 2000 to 2009.

 

[pats4life12]

He should definitely be signed long team he is good and has earned a long term spot on the patriots.

 

[supafly]

That did not stop the New England Patriots from selecting two tight ends in the 2010 NFL Draft when the New England Patriots organization expended numerous draft selections, including two first round picks, at the aforementioned offensive position from 2000 to 2009.

It isn't going to stop the front office from anything, I'm just speaking for the concerns.

Not many will agree that replacing Talib with an unknown rookie is a good idea with the bust rate that they have though, so that's why I brought it up. There were many reasonably priced free agent CB's this year, so that would be the choice that about 99% of us would want to go.

Your comparison may not be as effective as you meant it to be due to the fact that we weren't necessarily attempting to replace a stud TE in the 2010 draft, so that's also something to think about. They weren't trying to replace what many here deem as the most key component of that side of the ball in the 2010 draft, they were simply reloading at the position since the cupboard was bare.

 

[ATippett56]

I don't understand your point.

How many times was the New England Patriots organization criticized on this message board for the tight end draft selections from 2000-2009?

Are you suggesting that one option is to not sign a top free agent (like Talib) and rely on a couple of top rookies? I really don't understand your point.

That has been the exact strategy for the New England Patriots offense at the "X" wide receiver position this season.

What's the matter? What's good for the goose (rookie "X" wide receivers) is not good for the gander (rookie left cornerback)?

 

[supafly]

How many times was the New England Patriots organization criticized on this message board for the tight end draft selections from 2000-2009?

That has been the exact strategy for the New England Patriots offense at the "X" wide receiver position this season.

What's the matter? What's good for the goose (rookie "X" wide receivers) is not good for the gander (rookie left cornerback)?

I don't think you're going to reach many with this attempt at a comparison since the difference is night and day.

If we had dumped arguably the most important person on either side of the ball and tried to replace them with a rookie draft pick, (at a position that has been poor drafting wise) then your comparison would be more reasonable.

All we did in 2010 was try to replace an empty cupboard with some young players in the draft. The bar was set pretty low at the time.

If they choose to spend less money on another talented player in free agency instead of reaching agreement with Talib, that's one thing. If they let Talib walk and pin their hopes on a rookie draft pick, they will be taking an enormous gamble that would lessen their odds of keeping the same system.

 

[Marqui]

I just don't think that Belichick is going to stray from his usual value system.

He won't, but his value system does include resigning players at premium price that have performed at an elite level on his team (see Mankins/Wilfork/Mayo/Brady).

 

[supafly]

He won't, but his value system does include resigning players at premium price that have performed at an elite level on his team (see Mankins/Wilfork/Mayo/Brady).

Definitely.

I hope it gets done, only time will tell. I'm sure it will be a rather high priority for sure, if not the highest. Not too many other real key players who are FA's in the period this year, especially with Ninkovich being signed yesterday.

 

[ATippett56]

If we had dumped arguably the most important person on either side of the ball and tried to replace them with a rookie draft pick, (at a position that has been poor drafting wise) then your comparison would be more reasonable.

The New England Patriots offense dumped the following players this past off-season:

Lloyd
Welker
Hernandez
Fells
Ballard

All we did in 2010 was try to replace an empty cupboard with some young players in the draft. The bar was set pretty low at the time.

I don't see the difference at the cornerback position in 2014 than the tight end position in 2010.

If they choose to spend less money on another talented player in free agency instead of reaching agreement with Talib, that's one thing. If they let Talib walk and pin their hopes on a rookie draft pick, they will be taking an enormous gamble that would lessen their odds of keeping the same system.

I could argue the same position for Devin McCourty who incidentally is 18 months younger than Talib and does not have a 4 game PED suspension on his resume.

So Devin McCourty is going to accept chump change in order to keep Aqib Talib on the roster?

 

[IndianPat]

The next 3 games should really tell us if Talib is real. He has been very good so far and if he proves to be real - I would love for the Pats to sign up Talib for two more years for what ever it takes.

You need a player like him in the back field to bring out the best in other parts of the defense. If he is the right corner, it would be stupid to back off for the sake of a couple of mill.

 

[Kdo5]

I would like to see Talib be signed for more years as a Pat. I don't think he is great and he can get beat sometimes but I sincerely believe we might have won the AFCCG if Talib didn't get injured or at least made it closer.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

100% he wouldn't sign long term right now. He is going to play..try and have a big year and cash in huge. He won't be a patriot next year if he has a pro bowl year i can tell you that.

We could use the Franchise Tag on him.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

3-4 year contract for now. I don't think it's wise to sign him for longer or for more money. He could get injured or slow down.

 

[manxman2601]

Absolutely, and it's not just some quirk of the Patriots that finding CBs of Talib's caliber is a challenge for them. (Consider: Talib was drafted higher than any Patriots DB has been since Roland James back in 1980.)

Since when does draft placement have any effect whatsoever on future plans for the team? Belichick couldn't care less whether or not we have a capable UDFA back there or a first overall pick. As you are well aware, we've had many "high" draft picks at the position, most recently Devin McCourty who was also in the "20's" much like Aqib Talib.

I don't even see why we're talking about the draft to begin with to be honest with you. We've consistently drafted very poorly with WR's too, and yet have somehow managed to be one of the top offenses in the league for many years now. There's other ways to acquire a player than the draft. There are talented CB's and players at every single position in free agency that come up every year, so if we're not able to reach a deal with Talib it will certainly be a realistic thought to continue our man coverage scheme with another player.

I think you may be misconstruing Patchick's point here Supa. I can't speak for her but I'd suggest she's saying that teams struggle to find athletic well-sized press man CBs with shut down upside outside the top end of the first round and the Patriots are never in position to ever draft such a beast. That one has fallen in to our laps should not be dismissed lightly.

 

[manxman2601]

It was interesting that BB was using Talib one on one with Jackson on Sunday. i don't remember that happening last season but could be wrong. It will be interesting to see whether he does it with Julio this coming Sunday. If so, it would suggest that Talib's value to the Pats has risen exponentially.

 

[Nunchucks]

Talib is worth resigning. I am skeptical of the Patriots ability to find a guy who they can plug in to play at CB. Arrington looked god awful covering William during the first half of the game on Sunday.

They have a guy, he is reasonably young, he plays well enough...sign him.

 

[RayClay]

I think you may be misconstruing Patchick's point here Supa. I can't speak for her but I'd suggest she's saying that teams struggle to find athletic well-sized press man CBs with shut down upside outside the top end of the first round and the Patriots are never in position to ever draft such a beast. That one has fallen in to our laps should not be dismissed lightly.

I won't speak to another posters meaning, but your point is well taken.

 

[Marqui]

It was interesting that BB was using Talib one on one with Jackson on Sunday. i don't remember that happening last season but could be wrong. It will be interesting to see whether he does it with Julio this coming Sunday. If so, it would suggest that Talib's value to the Pats has risen exponentially.

They did it twice against Andre Johnson last year. How can you not remember that?

 

[manxman2601]

They did it twice against Andre Johnson last year. How can you not remember that?

Because I have a terrible memory. But thanks for the clarification.