Aqib Talib

New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib

(AP)

There was not a more important player on defense last year than Aqib Talib.

After years of toiling in mediocrity, or worse, Talib returned to the New England Patriots on a one-year deal and solidified the once porous secondary. Talib should have no trouble drumming up suitors if he hits the market, which means that New England can forget about getting him back on a one-year, $5 million deal.

There may not have been a better cornerback in the AFC during the first half of the season. Through the first six games of the season, Talib was targeted 33 times and gave up 13 receptions for 186 yards with one touchdown allowed and four interceptions, according to Pro Football Focus. He then missed the next three games due to injury.

Talib then returned in Week 11 and then re-aggravated his hip injury in a game against the Carolina Panthers, which caused his play to suffer during the second half of the season. In the final nine games, including playoffs, he was targeted 42 times and gave up 28 receptions for 480 yards with two touchdowns allowed.

But it was the first half of the season, a span during which Talib shut down New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham and Atlanta’s Julio Jones and Roddy White, that will have teams trying to sign him this offseason.

Why the Patriots won't sign him: The price. That's the only reason New England will let him hit the open market. And if he does leave, it may not be the end of the world. The Patriots have a few other quality corners in Alfonzo Dennard and Logan Ryan that they could get by with. The only issue is that going with those two as the top corners probably means a return to playing more zone defense.

Why the Patriots will sign him: Look at those numbers from the first half of the season again. Then look at how the secondary performed after Talib left the AFC title game against the Denver Broncos with a knee injury early in the second quarter. They couldn't stop Peyton Manning or do anything to contain wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Talib's price may have actually gone up after he went down.

Notable 2013 deals



Brent Grimes, Miami:

one year, $5.5 million

2012 stats:

Played one game due to injury.

Kennan Lewis, New Orleans: five years, $26 million

2012 stats: 71 tackles, 23 passes defensed

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Denver: two years, $10 million (second year is voidable)

2012 production: 51 tackles, three interceptions, 17 passes defensed

Signing Talib to a long-term deal may be risky. The character issues that once sullied his reputation seem to be in the past, but his health is still a concern. He’s dealt with hip issues for a number of years, and that will likely remain a concern moving forward. If cap space isn’t an issue, locking him for one more year with the franchise tag may be the best option.