The New England Patriots have had a busy offseason by signing Tom Brady to a new contract extension and dealing with the possibility of losing wide receiver Wes Welker, which is one reason why the team may work hard to hang on to cornerback Aqib Talib.
According to ESPN.com, Talib is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the Patriots decided not to use the franchise tag on him and although Welker was an important part of the team last year, the cornerback might be the team's top priority this offseason. ESPN reports that starting cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was found guilty in Nebraska for felony assault of a police officer and faces a maximum of six years in jail.
The Patriots could lose Dennard to a suspension by the NFL, making Talib a very big priority for the team New England ranked 29th in the league against the pass and with Talib becoming a free agent along with nickel back Kyle Arrington, the Patriots will be in desperate need for a cornerback.
Bill Belichick took a chance on Talib by acquiring him from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite him being suspended earlier in the season for a drug test and all reports say that he was a good soldier while in New England. Arrington has been solid for the team over the past few years, but chances are the team will let him go.
Belichick will focus on cornerback in the draft and if the team lets Welker go in free agency, they will have some money to spend on Talib or someone like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Quentin Jammer or Brent Grimes from the Falcons. Talib had an interception in his first game after being traded for and the team could keep him if he doesn't ask for too much money.
Desmond Trufant could be a target for the Patriots out of Washington, as he is one of the highest-rated cornerback prospects in the draft and possess the athletic ability the team like to have in their corners. New England has the 29th pick in the draft and Trufant could be available there, but likely not in the second round.
After Dennard's suspension and possibly losing Arrington and Talib, Trufant could be a solid replacement. He was durable in college while starting in 45 straight games with the Huskies and had a solid performance at the combine when he had a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, and completed the three-cone drill in 3.85 seconds.
Another option later in the draft could be cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson out of Connecticut, who ESPN draft expert Todd McShay has on his big board. Wreh-Wilson had a solid performance at the combine in Indianapolis by running a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash and made eight interceptions during his career at UConn.
The team could also go after Charles Woodson and Ed Reed at safety if they can't find more help in the secondary, as Belichick has always been a fan of the Ravens star.
The Patriots went 12-4 last season and made it to the AFC championship game where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, who went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
