NFL Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Joe Thomas, Joe Staley and More

The NFL world isn't one that regularly sees midseason trades. They do happen, of course—the Green Bay Packers recently acquired running back Knile Davis from the Kansas City Chiefs—but they rarely seem to be of the blockbuster variety.

This year, though, could bring some exceptions. There have been some big-name players floating around the trade-rumor mill. While this is typically par for the course this time of year, a couple of them make so much sense that they almost appear likely.

There are a number of potential contenders around the league in serious need of offensive line help. The 4-1-1 Seattle Seahawks, who are rated dead last in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus, top the list. The 5-1 Minnesota Vikings are right behind, rated 31st in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus.

This is why two of the players we are going to discuss could and should be targeted as we approach the Nov. 1 trade deadline.

Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland Browns

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Perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas regularly has his name surface in trade rumors this time of year. Despite playing for the lowly Cleveland Browns, Thomas is about as proven a commodity as you're going to find along an offensive line.

The guy has never missed an offensive snap and has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine NFL seasons. He is currently rated fourth overall among all offensive tackles this season by Pro Football Focus. He can boost virtually any team he joins almost immediately.

While it doesn't make a ton of sense for the Browns to move one of the only great players on the roster, it's clear the winless franchise is building for the future. It's fair to wonder if the 31-year-old Thomas will still be playing at a high level if and when the Browns finally turn the corner.

However, Thomas has made it clear he won't ask for a trade in order to join a contender. Per ESPN.com's Pat McManamon, Thomas wants to stay in Cleveland.

Thomas' wishes, though, haven't prevented his name from once again floating around the rumor mill, and it appears the Browns would be willing to move him for the right price. The team nearly traded him to the Denver Broncos this time last season, but the two sides couldn't reach an acceptable agreement.

According to Rotoworld's Evan Silva, Cleveland would be willing to deal Thomas in exchange for a second-round pick:

Considering Thomas may realistically have four or five more years of Pro Bowl play left in the tank, a second-rounder doesn't feel all that steep.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com recently explained that while a trade is possible, the chances of it happening might not be as strong as one might think:

"

Ultimately, the Browns could simply decide to keep Thomas for the rest of the year and then trade Thomas after the season ends and before the draft. The chances of a trade happening this year currently are regarded as smaller than the chances of a trade were a year ago. With the Browns skewing younger and determined to stockpile draft picks, an eventual trade of Thomas would hardly be regarded as surprising.

"

While it wouldn't be surprising to see Thomas wind up with a contender, it also wouldn't be surprising to see the Browns keep him. He is one of the few proven pieces upon whom Cleveland can build its future, and it's not like players of his caliber simply fall out of the draft at will.

Joe Staley, OT, San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Even if teams in need of line help cannot land Thomas, they still might be able to grab a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle before the deadline. Florio also reported that the San Francisco 49ers are willing to move left tackle Joe Staley.

Per Florio, the teams that are interested in Thomas—such as the Seahawks, Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and possibly the New England Patriots—are also interested in Staley. However, Florio reported that San Francisco is seeking a first-rounder in exchange for its left tackle.

Like Thomas, Staley was a first-round pick back in 2007. While he hasn't been to the Pro Bowl in every pro season, he has been named to the all-star exhibition in each of the last five years. Pro Football Focus rates Staley 13th overall among all offensive tackles for the season so far.

Almost any team acquiring Staley would be getting an upgrade along its offensive line.

The reason why the 49ers might move their left tackle is fairly obvious. The 1-6 franchise is firmly entrenched in a rebuild that rivals the one occurring in Cleveland. Any high draft pick gained in exchange for Staley would help give the team ammunition for the future.

Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have managed to win five games in a row, and they have won three of those games without the services of star wide receiver Dez Bryant. The good news is that Bryant should be on his way back.

According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Bryant is expected to return for the Week 8 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles:

However, Bryant being healthy hasn't stopped trade rumors from swirling around him. Fox Sports' Shannon Sharpe, for example, believes the Cowboys should trade him in order to get his personality out of the building.

"I wanna get rid of Dez for one reason: I want his negative influence out of the locker room," Sharpe said on Undisputed, per Andre Vergara of FoxSports.com. "This is a very, very young football team, and the two stars on offense do not need to have that guy in their presence. I'm trying to remove him at all costs."

It is true that the Cowboys have been winning with quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott—and without Bryant. It's also true that Prescott seems to view Cole Beasley as his favorite wide receiver.

However, it doesn't make a ton of sense for the Cowboys to move Bryant unless they get an offer that is way too good to pass on. At some point, Dallas is going to need a receiver like Bryant who can take over a game. It might not come until the postseason, but it's going to happen.

This is a reality that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems to clearly understand.

"Dez Bryant's a major difference-maker," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan's G-Bag Nation show, per Machota. "We got a long way to go. He singularly can make a difference in big games. We're anxious to get him back. There are no plans, no thought, I've not even had a bad dream about trading him."

Expect rumors of trading Bryant to remain simple rumors for the foreseeable future.