NFL: Trade!

The Los Angeles Rams remain by far the most active team of this off-season – and have already struck again: The current NFC West Champ has reached an agreement with Denver Broncos on a trade from Cornerback Aqib Talib.

According to NFL network insider Ian Rapoport, Denver will receive a five-round draft kick in return. Talib enters the penultimate year of his contract in 2018 and will charge the cap $11 million, leaving him with no guarantees for the last two years of his deal, so the Rams could leave the 32-year-old at any time without a dead cap.

Trade rumours have been circulating around the Talib for a few days now, especially the New England Patriots seemed to be way ahead of the race. As Rapoport reports, however, the negotiations between Denver and the Pats came to a halt – and the Rams, with ex-Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in their ranks, seized the opportunity.

The rams thus remain the most active team of the off-season so far. L.A. had previously handed Linebacker Alec Ogletree over to the New York Giants, but above all the Rams were able to snatch Marcus Peters from Kansas City via Trade. Peters and Talib could form one of the best cornerback duo in the league in one fell swoop. On Thursday evening, the Rams also signed ex-packers-cornerback Sam Shields.

Denver on the other side will start the season with Chris Harris and Bradley Roby as starting-cornerbacks – and was able to create financial leeway through the Talib-Trade. The Broncos will need it in the bidding for Kirk Cousins.