If you follow Aqib Talib on Twitter, you know that the 32-year-old quarterback has tweeted up a storm over the course of the last few days.
๐ who coming to get me??? https://t.co/Tm2I3AGW9O
— AqibTalib21 (@AqibTalib21) February 28, 2018
Who you hear this from w/i org??? Asking for a friend. https://t.co/iOmsdLPNZg
— AqibTalib21 (@AqibTalib21) March 1, 2018
The Broncos are getting ready to throw big money at a free-agent quarterback in a little under two weeks, and they’ll need to free up some money to do that. One of the most logical ways to do that will likely result in moving Talib at some point. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos discussed trading him while at the combine this week.
Talib’s tweets indicate that he’s as good as gone, but nothing is official until it’s official.
If Talib is in fact on his way out of Denver, what do the Broncos do next? Logically, fifth-year cornerback Bradley Roby would assume the starting role opposite of Chris Harris Jr., but who do the Broncos plug in at the third cornerback position?
It’s unlikely to think that the Broncos would draft another corner after drafting Brendan Langley in the third round of last year’s draft, so just for fun let’s look at three corners that the Broncos could add in free agency for a reasonable price.
Robert McClain
McClain is entering his eighth year in the NFL, but is also coming off arguably his best season. The 29-year-old corner played in 14 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in which he picked off a career-high three passes while returning one of those for a touchdown, defended five passes and totaled 46 tackles all while making under $1 million. If the Broncos aren’t comfortable throwing Langley, Marcus Rios or Michael Hunter in the defensive backfield just yet, McClain could be a serviceable veteran to help bridge the gap.
Rashaan Melvin
Despite having wrapped up only his fourth year in the NFL, Melvin has been around the block a few times. He’s played for the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, sandwiched in between two stops with the Baltimore Ravens before finally finding a home in Indianapolis, where he’s spent the last two seasons with the Colts. Melvin started all of the 10 games he played in last season before being sidelined with a hand injury that ultimately ended his season. In those 10 games, Melvin intercepted three passes, defended 13 more and made 36 tackles. The Colts would like to have him back, but are going to let him test the open market first, which would allow the Broncos a chance to reload in the secondary if they choose to do so.
Malcolm Butler
Butler will likely come with a larger price tag, but after New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick made the decision to not play him on a single defensive snap in what turned out to be a loss to the Philidelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, it’s safe to say that there is no chance Butler returns to the Patriots. If the Broncos are willing to spend, they could replace the previous cornerback they snatched away from the Patriots in free agency with perhaps another one in Butler, who intercepted two passes, defended 12 more and forced three fumbles in the 16 games he played in, excluding the playoffs.