The San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos are talking about a possible trade involving cornerback Aqib Talib, per Dianna Russini of ESPN. However, Russini said the trade talk will go nowhere as Talib is interested in rejoining the New England Patriots. Russini said Talib prefers to be released by the Broncos so he can sign with the Patriots. The Broncos will save around $11 million in salary cap if they release Talib, who made it to the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons.
Talib played part of the 2012 season and all of the 2013 season with the Patriots before signing with the Broncos in 2014.
Talib played five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who picked him in the first round of the 2008 Draft. In his career, Talib has 34 career interceptions.
Rams ship veteran linebacker to Giants
The Los Angeles Rams have shipped veteran linebacker Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants for two picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider. According to Rapoport, the Rams traded Ogletree and a 2019 seventh-round pick to the Giants for 2018 fourth and sixth-round selections. However, the trade will become official when the new NFL league year opens on March 14. The trade came months after Ogletree signed a four-year, $42 million contract extension in October with the Rams.
The 26-year-old Ogletree, who tallied 231 tackles and two sacks in the past two years with the Rams, will be a major upgrade for the Giants, who lacked speed in their defensive unit last season. The Rams, for their part, have a busy offseason as they recently traded with the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Marcus Peters and traded pass rusher Robert Quinn to the Miami Dolphins.
Rapoport said Ogletree was supposed to be part of the Peters deal, but the Chiefs declined. The Rams’ recent moves came as no surprise as they are aiming to create salary-cap room to sign several stars, including Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Eagles acquire Michael Bennett from Seahawks
Rapoport also disclosed that the Seattle Seahawks shipped defensive lineman Michael Bennett and a seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rapoport said the Seahawks will get a fifth-round selection and wideout Marcus Johnson. The move will save the Seahawks around $5.2 million in 2018, but the Eagles will be saddled with Bennett’s deal. The defensive lineman will enter the final year of the three-year, $30.5 million deal that he signed with the Seahawks in 2016. Bennett is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.65 million and a roster bonus of $5 million. With the Eagles already $10 million over the salary cap, they will be forced to release some of their players from their Super Bowl-winning squad. Last season, Bennett played 16 games for the Seahawks, recording 40 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
