Despite being the best cornerback on the New England Patriots last season, Aqib Talib might not return on a new deal in 2014, with worries about his injuries and overall looking to not spend too much money in these positions in the past possibly being the reasoning behind not re-signing him.
Talib made the Pro Bowl and the 2nd All-Pro team this season, intercepting four passes and having by far his best season since entering the NFL in 2008. The Patriots were very pleased with him last season as well, but only gave him a one-year deal worth $5 million going into this one.
According to Robert Kraft, speaking to The Sports Hub from Radio Row in New York, it’s still an undecided matter regarding whether or not to give him a new deal.
Well, we want to retain all the good players we can retain. It’s not like we have unlimited funding. He wasn’t on the field a lot of the time since he’s been with us. It’s a balance of us balancing all that out and what is he worth. I think he’s happy here and would like to be here and we’re happy with him and we’d like to have him here and now it’s just about doing business.
Talib didn’t see too many offers coming his way last season, but this year is going to be different, and there’s a good chance the Patriots will have to offer more in order to keep him with the team 0 more years and probably more money. Their history regarding impending free agents at the position suggests Talib isn’t going to be pleased with what he gets, unless he’s planning on playing for the Patriots no matter what.
The Patriots have the exclusive right to negotiate with Talib until March 8. On March 11, he hits the free agency market, open to any offer. By then, he should have an idea of what his value his and who is willing to offer him the big money. Unlike last season, talks of him being a behavioral risk aren’t on the table anymore, as his history with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to had no effect whatsoever on his time with the Patriots.