Extension for Aqib Talib should be considered by Rams before training camp

With Aqib Talib entering the final year of his contract, the Los Angeles Rams will need to decide at some point if the veteran cornerback is worth bringing back after 2019.

Last offseason, the Los Angeles Rams established a reputation for being a team in win-now mode that was willing to consider any sort of move that put them in better position to make a run at the Super Bowl.

In typical Rams fashion, the team managed to convince the Denver Broncos to send veteran cornerback Aqib Talib to Los Angeles in a trade to not only provide the defense with one of the top players in the league at his position, but also create a reunion with Wade Phillips.

Football fans can say whatever they want about the unnecessary drama that Talib sometimes brings to the table since the case can be made he’s been more of a distraction at times, but the talent alone is difficult to deny.

By joining the Rams, Talib would be teaming up with Marcus Peters, who was also acquired in the offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs, to provide the defense with a new dynamic duo to work with at the position.

Unfortunately, an ankle injury limited Talib to appearing in just eight games during the regular season for the Rams in 2018, although it could have been much worse since the injury appeared to be season ending at one point.

As for Talib’s second season with Los Angeles in 2019, the excitement is high once again to see how the veteran and Peters look on defense to help put the Rams in the best position possible to earn another trip to the Super Bowl, with hopefully better results.

And while the last couple of weeks have seen plenty of talks surrounding the possibility of rewarding Peters with a potential contract extension, it’s sort of surprising not to hear the same conversation involving Talib since he’s arguably just as worthy, if not more valuable.

Right away, football fans will point out the fact that from a long-term perspective, Peters is the more important player since Talib may only have one or two good years left in him at 33 years of age.

However, as long as Talib continues to play at a high level for the Rams on defense, it may not be a bad idea for the team to even consider a short-term extension just to keep the cornerback position in great shape.

Between continuing to play at a high level along the chance to continue mentoring some of the younger players on defense, Talib can clearly still bring a lot to the table for Los Angeles over the next couple of years if given the right opportunity.

Most likely, the attention for the future at cornerback will most likely revolve around a potential extension for Peters, but here’s to hoping the Rams consider the thought of Talib as well since the veteran’s impressive career alone speaks for itself.