NFL Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Heading into 2016 Free Agency

NFL teams can officially contact free agents, and the rumor mill has caught fire. At the expense of a busy open market, trading tends to take a back seat.

Not always, though. The same team which orchestrated a blockbuster trade last season began the offseason ruckus by dealing three players it acquired last year. And that squad may not be done.

Perhaps due to a weak offensive draft class, two skill-position players headline the trading hot stove as the offseason intensifies. It's a much bigger surprise, however, to see a Super Bowl contender possibly shopping a Pro Bowl defender.

Before diving into the free-agency madness, let's examine some trade whispers from around the league.

Eagles Shopping Ryan Mathews

Michael Perez/Associated Press

The Philadelphia Eagles embarked on an unusual running back spending spree last offseason, signing DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews to join Darren Sproles in the backfield. Unsurprisingly, doling out major money on a position flush with cheap talent didn't work.

Murray, worked to the bone by the Dallas Cowboys following years of injury trouble, averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry for his new NFC East employers. Eager to move on, the Eagles dealt him to the Tennessee Titans on Monday, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter: 

They may, however, also seek a suitor for Mathews, who recorded 5.1 yards per rush in limited work last season. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, before the Murray news broke, the Eagles also placed Mathews on the trading block:

Philadelphia also offset two other unsuccessful moves from last year. According to Rapoport, they shipped Kiko Alonso (previously acquired for LeSean McCoy) and Byron Maxwell (curiously given a six-year, $63 million contract) to the Miami Dolphins:

Mathews again struggled to stay healthy in 2015, amassing 126 touches through 13 games. Yet he proved a much better fit in Philadelphia's offense than Murray when given opportunities. His signing hasn't proved nearly as disastrous as the others, but he became an unnecessary addition alongside Murray.

Following a disappointing 7-9 campaign, the Eagles seem determined to distance themselves from transactions made during Chip Kelly's brief tenure as team president. They hit the lottery by finding takers for Maxwell's and Murray's bloated contracts on the same day.

In comparison, Mathews looks like a shrewd gamble, so they shouldn't hastily jettison him. The 28-year-old accrued 1,255 yards in his one full season with the San Diego Chargers, so he's capable of leading a committee with Sproles and a cost-effective Plan B to account for injuries.

Monday's fire sale made perfect sense, but there's no reason to dump Mathews without receiving a decent return.

49ers Eyeing Chiefs' De'Anthony Thomas

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Hey, what do you know? Now head coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Kelly is trying to trade for a running back.

According to John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game, San Francisco is interested in obtaining De'Anthony Thomas from the Kansas City Chiefs:

Thomas, who excelled as a rusher, receiver and returner for Kelly's Oregon Ducks, has not translated his blazing speed to NFL success. Used sparingly last season, he accumulated 174 yards from scrimmage and 365 return yards.

The 23-year-old missed the final six games of the season, which he said was caused by a concussion. Kansas City, however, placed him on the non-football injury or illness list before the final weekend.

In an interview with 610 Sports Radio (h/t the Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor) Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Thomas passed the league's concussion protocols but sat out the final games for an unrelated reason.

“He seemed fine when he was here,” Reid said. “That wasn’t what he told me why things ended that way. So I’m not going to get into all that, but it wasn’t concussion-related.”

At 5'8" and 176 pounds, Thomas will have a difficult time carving out a role beyond a scarcely used big-play weapon. Yet the 49ers would provide him with a coach willing to utilize his immense talent. Armed with 12 draft picks, they have assets to spare for the high-upside playmaker whom Kansas City drafted in the fourth round two years ago.

Many odd, unlikely offseason rumors like the one below will baffle readers, but trading Thomas for a late pick makes sense for both sides. 

Cardinals Taking Calls for Calais Campbell

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Before their season fell apart in Carolina, the Arizona Cardinals entered the postseason potent title contenders at 13-3. While their high-powered offense earned most of the credit, their underrated defense ranked No. 5 in yards allowed and No. 2 with 33 takeaways.

One of its major igniters, Calais Campbell collected 61 tackles and five sacks. The 300-pound defensive end fits perfectly into their 3-4 scheme, and their championship window won't stay open long behind 36-year-old quarterback Carson Palmer.

Given the circumstances, Campbell isn't a name expected to frequent the rumor mill. Omar Kelly of South Florida Sun-Sentinel, however, said the Cardinals are dangling him on the trade market:

Like most things in life, money is likely the driving factor. According to Spotrac, the 29-year-old comes with a $15.25 million cap hit in 2016, the final year of a back-loaded contract signed in 2012. No defensive end other than Muhammad Wilkerson, recently franchise-tagged by the New York Jets, will consume more cap space this season:

Rank	Player	Cap Hit
1	Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ	$15,7011,000
2	Calais Campbell, ARI	$15,250,000
3	J.J. Watt, HOU	$14,500,000
4	Olivier Vernon, MIA	$12,734,000*
5	Robert Quinn, LA	$11,157,374

Tying up so much money with Campbell hampers Arizona's ability to re-sign or replace free agents Rashad Johnson and Jerraud Powers. Don't expect every other front office to share those budgetary concerns. If the Eagles could find teams willing to pay Maxwell and Murray, the Cardinals would have no trouble locating a team happy to open its checkbook.