With Malcolm Butler all but gone after his Super Bowl benching and the Patriots burned for 41 points in the Super Bowl, the need at cornerback in New England is apparent.
A couple of veteran options - who are expected to become salary cap casualties - are receptive to coming to Foxboro, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports.
Aqib Talib of the Broncos, who had productive seasons in 2012 and 2013 with the Pats, and Richard Sherman of the Seahawks, are a couple of big-name corners who "have their eye on the Patriots" according to Howe.
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Talib, 32, whose signing with Denver led to the Pats acquisition of Darrelle Revis, is expected to be released. In fact, he appeared to be looking for a new team in this tweet from Wednesday:
Sherman, who's about to turn 30, coming off a ruptured Achilles injury that ended his season early in Seattle, is also expected to be let go and, after the Pats inquired about trading for him last offseason. Howe reports, "Sherman was receptive to the idea of joining the Patriots then and still is now if Seattle goes in another direction, according to a source."
Free agency begins March 14.
