It was behavior unbefitting of a team captain. The Broncos had a chance to come back later in that game, but the guy tapped to replace Talib in the lineup - Brendan Langley - was exploited in the clutch by the savvy veteran QB, Derek Carr. When the Broncos were on the road in Oakland, and Talib snatched Crabtree’s chain, not only did it cause a sideline brawl of sorts, it cost Talib the rest of that game and a one-game suspension. In 2017, when the Broncos went off the rails and lost eight in row, there were many times when Talib didn’t give maximum effort. With A Critical Offseason Imminent, Become A VIP Subscriber!įrom poking Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in the eye, to yanking Panthers wideout Philly Brown to the turf by the facemask in Super Bowl 50, to shooting himself in the leg in Dallas, to the locker room outbursts, to ripping off Michael Crabtree’s chain (twice), Talib’s tenure in Denver was peppered with less than ideal behavior. Remember, as great as Talib has been at times for the Broncos, it hasn’t exactly been all roses and he's 32 years old. The Broncos were likely going to release Aqib Talib anyway, so getting a fifth-rounder in exchange is actually a win, although it might seem like small consolation for a perennial Pro Bowler. Aaron Colvin tops the vet list for me, but the 2018 Draft class is also replete with options. Look for the Broncos to peel off a few million of the cap space created by Talib’s trade on a veteran cornerback. 2017 third-rounder Brendan Langley proved as a rookie that he still has a long ways to go in his development as a cornerback, but he’s only been playing the position for a couple of years. However, behind Roby and Chris Harris Jr, the Broncos face uncertainty.

The Broncos exercised Roby’s fifth-year option, which will cost the team a hefty sum in 2018, but if they’re going to offer their 2014 first-rounder a long-term extension, they have to see him as a starter game-in and game-out.

The fifth-year Bradley Roby stands to benefit the most, and that was part of Denver’s motivation to trade Talib. Talib was set to count for $12 million against Denver’s cap, and although the team will certainly find ways to utilize the space created by this trade, Talib’s absence will create a void. Perhaps the Broncos should have asked for Kayvon Webster as part of the terms, because where once there were three upper-echelon cornerbacks, there are now two. Aqib Talib will be reunited with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the brainchild behind the vaunted 2015 World Champion Broncos defense. Per Ian Rapoport, the Broncos will get a 2018 fifth round pick in exchange for the five-time Pro Bowler. After weeks of talks with different teams across the NFL, the Denver Broncos have reportedly finalized a deal to trade Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Treason of Friends by Q.V. Hunter