NFL Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Top Names Before 2016 Deadline

The NFL trade deadline is almost upon us. Any teams that are looking to make a deal will have to do so before 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 1, or wait until the offseason.

The NFL trade deadline doesn't usually bring about a ton of headline-grabbing trades, but significant deals do occur. On Monday, for example, the New England Patriots traded Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported:

With about a day before the trade deadline strikes, the rumor mill should be ramping up. Even if we don't see a mass movement of players actually take place, it's worth discussing the latest rumors and trade chatter.

Let's dig in.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears

One player whose name has come up quite a bit is Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery. The former Pro Bowl pass-catcher is currently playing under the franchise and isn't guaranteed to stick around beyond the 2016 season.

It does make some sense for the rebuilding Bears to get what they can for Jeffery while they can. The Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to Jeffery. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also in the market for a wide receiver.

However, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports (H/T NFL Media's Chris Wesseling) that there's no legitimacy to the idea of the Bears moving Jeffery. Rapoport is probably right because any deal for Jeffery would actually be rather complicated.

Since Jeffery is playing under the franchise tag, a team acquiring him wouldn't be able to extend him until the offseason. This means the Bears would likely receive minimal compensation or compensation that escalates if such an extension is finalized.

This simply doesn't feel like anything more than a rumor.

Joe Staley, OT, San Francisco 49ers

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Another name that has repeatedly come up in trade rumors this season is San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley.

Staley is a five-time Pro Bowler (each of the past five seasons) and a quality offensive lineman. He is currently rated 18th among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus and should draw the interest of teams in need of line help.

The 1-6 49ers are in the beginning stages of a rebuilding effort. Future draft picks could be enticing, though it doesn't make a lot of sense to part with a quality anchor tackle.

There is certainly no shortage of contending teams that could use the help of a tackle like Staley. The Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings, for example, are rated 32nd and 31st in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus, respectively.

The question here is whether or not the 49ers really are willing to move Staley.

"That’s news to me," 49ers head coach Chip Kelly said last week, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. "Nobody has had any discussions with me about Joe being traded. We need Joe here."

I would guess that Staley also stays put.

Torrey Smith, WR, San Francisco 49ers

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One player I could see the 49ers moving before Tuesday is underachieving receiver Torrey Smith. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (via NFL.com's Chris Wesseling), there were some early rumors that the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles were in trade talks regarding Smith, though the Eagles later denied they were interested in acquiring a receiver.

Eagles executive Howie Roseman said last week that "there's no legitimacy" to reports that the team is looking to trade for a pass-catcher, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News.

However, it's entirely possible Roseman was simply blowing smoke.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the Eagles are still looking for a receiver before the trade deadline, per sources. According to Florio, talks with the 49ers regarding Smith are "still not dead."

If talks aren't dead, then they must have existed in the first place. This means the 49ers probably do have some interest in moving Smith, and it's a deal I could see happening—even if he isn't shipped to the Eagles.

Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets

David Richard/Associated Press

Another receiver who has been the subject of trade chatter is New York Jets wideout Brandon Marshall. Greg A. Bedard of SI.com recently suggested that the Kansas City Chiefs should make a move for the seasoned pass-catcher.

Dealing for Marshall would certainly make sense for Kansas City. It makes less sense for the Jets—outside of the fact the team could be in rebuild mode by the end of the season and Marshall is 32 years old.

Marshall, though, doesn't sound like he wants to go anywhere.

“I would be disappointed if I was traded. I love it here,” Marshall said Sunday, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. “I want to finish what we started here with Coach [Todd] Bowles. But I don’t think that [a trade] will happen.”

I don't think a trade will happen either—unless the Jets receive an offer they simply cannot refuse.

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

There has been some speculation that the Cleveland Browns could trade away receiver Josh Gordon. The former league-leading receiver was released from a rehabilitation facility on Sunday.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that sources have indicated the Browns will try to trade Gordon. However, it doesn't seem like the team will be able to do so before the trade deadline. While Gordon can be traded, he remains on indefinite suspension for violation of the league's substance-abuse policy.

Even if a team acquired Gordon, it would have to wait for him to be reinstated by the league before it could actually utilize him. This means the Browns probably couldn't hope for more than a late-round pick or depth player as compensation.

A source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that it's "highly unlikely" the Browns will move Gordon before the deadline. I agree and believe it more likely that Gordon will be moved during the offseason if he isn't released outright.

Darren McFadden, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys showed on Sunday that they are in good hands with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott.

There may remain some divided opinions on whether the Cowboys should keep rolling with Prescott or turn back to Tony Romo when the veteran is ready. However, Elliott, who has rushed for 799 yards and five touchdowns already this season, has clearly established himself as the team's top running.

This has led to some speculation about the future of running back Darren McFadden. The former first-round pick led the Cowboys in rushing with 1,089 yards in 2015. However, he has yet to see the field—both because of an elbow injury and because of the presence of Elliott and backup Alfred Morris.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport has reported (H/T, NFL Media's Conor Orr) that the Cowboys could be willing to move Elliot, though the offer "would need to be significant."

This is a deal that could conceivably occur. There are plenty of teams—like the Vikings, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers—who have sent running backs to injured reserve this season.