Archives for February 7, 2014

Talib. No question.

I like Edelman, but we have to be realistic given the number of factors. 

1. This was Edelman’s first full healthy season.
2. He was the only receiver who had caught a ball from Tom Brady prior to this season. The others will improve with the experience they got this year.
3. The Pats chose to pay Danny Amendola last offseason, not Edelman. They made that bed and now they have to lie in it.
4. Does anyone really think it will be that tough for the Pats to plug in another slot receiver? I don’t. And I could see Amendola easily surpassing Edelman’s performance this season.
5. How many slot receivers do you need? And how many can you realistically afford?

It might hurt more to lose his punt return skills. Don’t get me wrong, I like Edelman, but I don’t think he’s irreplaceable and the Pats only have so much cap room. They also have a ton of youth at receiver that they need to develop.

And unless we’re talking Bill O’Brien and the Texans, who know Edelman, I’d be wary if I was another team about giving Edelman a monster deal. Can he replicate his 2013 production with another QB, in another offense? And can he stay healthy? There are a lot of questions that would scare me off. That potentially could keep Edelman in the Pats’ price range, but they can’t afford to overspend on a position they put a bunch of money into last year.

As for Talib, we’ve seen the difference he makes. He changes the entire complexion of the defense. Corners like him are near impossible to find. You either have to grab one at the top of the draft or overpay one in free agency. That’s unless you get lucky on someone like Richard Sherman, but instances like him are rare.

Talib’s injury history should knock him out of elite corner money, but the Pats will have to pony up a significant contract to him. I’d even be fine franchising him if they can open up enough space.

Just given the Patriots’ history, what’s the harder position for them to find? A slot receiver or a top corner? It’s a top corner every time. They have one who is now experience in the system, showed great leadership in his first full year with the team, and can take out the top opposing weapon. 

For all those reasons, Talib should be the priority as I see it.

He doesn’t. He’s been doing his best to make them lose by not top-loading his roster, but they just keep winning. I’m sure it must be maddening for him. Someday they’ll go 0-16. Someday…