2018 NFL free agency: Patriots will not get Aqib Talib as Broncos trade him to Rams

With Malcolm Butler expected to leave via unrestricted free agency, the New England Patriots are in the market for a cornerback. One of the potential targets: the Denver Broncos' Aqib Talib, who spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Patriots and was put on the trading block this season. Despite a $11.0 million salary cap hit in 2018, a reunion between the Patriots and their former number one cornerback was a possibility.

Was, because Talib will not return to New England. According to NFL Network's James Palmer, the 32-year old has been shipped to the Los Angeles Rams:

The #Broncos have agreed to trade CB Aqib Talib to the Rams per sources

A follow-up report by ESPN's Adam Schefter specified the terms of the deal:

Rams are expected to trade a 2018 fifth-round pick to Broncos for CB Aqib Talib, per source.

The move gives Los Angeles another top-tier cornerback after the team already acquired ex-Kansas City Chief Marcus Peters earlier this offseason. For New England, this means that a) the team still has a need at cornerback, while b) the focus could now potentially shift to another big-name defender: Richard Sherman, who is expected to get released by the Seattle Seahawks as early as tomorrow.