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According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Denver Broncos and San Fransisco 49ers have been in trade talks revolving around veteran cornerback Aqib Talib. She says it does not look like a deal will get done between the two sides and that Talib preference would be to get released so he can pick the team he joins.
His top choice? The New England Patriots.
I’m told there had been trade conversations going on between
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 7, 2018
the Broncos & the 49ers for Aqib Talib. It doesn’t look like it’s going to
get done. Told Talib prefers to be released by Denver so he can chose his next team, his top choice is the New England Patriots per sources
The Broncos figure to trade or release Talib prior or just after the start of the new league year next week to free up cap space to sign a veteran quarterback in free agency. Ideally, they would like to trade him and get some value back, but Russini doesn’t believe a trade will happen with the 49ers.
Either the two-sides couldn’t agree on compensation or the fact that Talib prefers to be released and sign with the Patriots could have factored into this. Possibly both were the case, but according to this report, the Broncos seem more likely to just release Talib.
The next remaining question is this? Will the Broncos give in to their veteran cornerback wants and simply just release him and allow him to sign where he wants? Or will they say the hell with that and do what is best for the team and get back some value? That is something to watch going forward if this report is accurate.
Either way, Talib’s time in Denver is coming to an end and former first-round pick Bradley Roby will be promoted to number two cornerback duties in the Broncos “No Fly Zone” secondary. The question remaining is if the Broncos will trade or release Talib.