Cornerback market stays hot: Verner to Bucs, Davis re-signs with Indy

photo via Blacksportsonline

The initial rush of free agency came and went without the Patriots making a move at corner. Aqib Talib is still unsigned, and Darrelle Revis still looks likely to join the free agent market.

Being unsigned leaves Talib in the minority of this free agent group. An already busy cornerback market saw two more big dominos drop today, with Alterraun Verner going to the Bucs and Vontae Davis opting to re-sign with the Colts.

At one point, it looked like the Colts were poised to lose Davis, but the Colts reportedly made a late push to keep him. His four year, $39 million contract (with $20 million guaranteed) is very comparable to that of Sam Shields, and is surely being brought up by Talib's agents as establishing a market value.

Verner's deal could give Patriots some leverage

On the other hand, Verner's signing tonight will be music to the Patriots ears. The former Titan, who publicly called the Patriots "a possibility" yesterday, signed with Tampa Bay to fill what will be a Revis-sized hole tomorrow. However, Verner got "only" $25.5 million over his four year deal, with "only" $14 million of that guaranteed. The Patriots will surely point to this deal in their negotiation, noting that Verner has youth and durability over Talib.

The sheer amount of top corners to sign could actually work in the Patriots favor. With Brent Grimes, Shields, Verner and Davis now off the market, Talib, Revis and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are the only three top corners standing. Those other guys (with the exception of Verner) did help Talib out by driving up the market, but now that they're gone, Talib has fewer options to further drive up his price. As a result, the longer negotiations drag out, the stronger the Patriots leverage could become. The fact that Talib reportedly hasn't received any formal offers yet certainly doesn't help his leverage.

Either way, it looks like the Pats could be waiting to see how the Revis situation plays out. It looks like the Patriots and Broncos will be the leading suitors for him, assuming the Bucs aren't able to trade him before their 4 pm deadline tomorrow and he gets released. While Revis would be the ideal signing, Talib is looking like he might have fewer alternatives by the hour.

Stay tuned, Pats fans.