Washington Redskins should avoid trading for Broncos CB Aqib Talib

The Denver Broncos will reportedly discuss trading veteran cornerback Aqib Talib in the coming offseason. The Washington Redskins have a moderate need at the position, but they should not make any offers.

With the Denver Broncos presumably itching to clear some cap room and acquire a certain local quarterback, trade rumors regarding Aqib Talib have been swirling up.

Talib, set to turn 32 years old later this offseason, will amount for $11 million of the Broncos’ salary cap in 2018. With depth at the position and needs elsewhere, it makes sense for the Broncos to look for trade suitors.

And it also makes sense for the Washington Redskins to have no part in this.

At first mention, the move sounds alright. The Broncos will obviously be in the hunt for Kirk Cousins, and the Washington Redskins will seemingly need a miracle just to receive compensation for his departure. Were the two sides to be willing, the Broncos and Redskins could trade Talib and Cousins, whilst swapping first round picks.

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Seems like a fair deal, right? The Broncos get their quarterback, and the Washington Redskins get an experienced cornerback with a track record of success.

But we’ve seen this story before. In fact, you could say we’re living in it.

Josh Norman was almost 29 years old when he signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Washington Redskins in April of 2016. Back then, there were concerns that he was too far into the arc of his career. In the present day, those same concerns linger.

Why would any sane general manager, with one high-profile cornerback already north of 30 years old, trade for Aqib Talib, a 32-year old cornerback with an $11 million contract on his back? Yes, you avoid paying Kirk Cousins a massive amount of money, but at the same time, you are taking on another overpaid contract at a position that doesn’t need that influx of talent, or cash.

The Washington Redskins’ cornerback group is already one of the better units in the league as it is, with Norman and Quinton Dunbar starting on the wings, Kendall Fuller in the slot, and Fabian Moreau providing depth. With another mid-to-late round pick in the draft this year, the position group should be ready to go.

Taleb’s presence, as a cornerback due to regress shortly, would not only use up unnecessary cap space, but he’s also widely known as a burden in the locker room. The Washington Redskins have put a lot of work into shaping a winning culture, and trading Kirk Cousins away for Aqib Talib would have the opposite effect.

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In this sense, it’s even more logical for the Denver Broncos to cut him loose. But as for who should be on the receiving end of this theoretical deal, the Washington Redskins should not be that team. Too much goes against them in this situation. They may see it as cutting their losses. But in truth, they’re only losing more.

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