NFL Rumors: Trade Buzz on Joe Haden, Torrey Smith and More

The 2016 NFL trade deadline already gave us our first big surprise, with the New England Patriots announcing they'd sent linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a third-round pick.

Collins' trade came a day after the Patriots moved to 7-1, solidifying their spot atop the AFC. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the move was strange for a number of reasons.

The Patriots would have received a compensatory draft pick for losing Collins in free agency had they not been able to agree on a long-term deal. Given Collins' stature and likely salary demands, it's very possible he could have fetched a third-round pick—the same exact compensation they received from Cleveland. Collins is the team's best linebacker and most versatile playmaker, and it's eye-opening that New England moved on now.

Will there be any more big surprises before Tuesday's deadline? History says no. The NFL has typically been the most dormant of the four major professional sports leagues when it comes to trade movement—especially during the season.

But will that stop anyone from speculating about a ton of stars who could be on the move? Of course not!

Teams Still Trying to Pounce on Joe Haden

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While it's still increasingly unlikely the Browns can move cornerback Joe Haden or tackle Joe Thomas before Tuesday, that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported several teams are doing "extensive" scouting on Haden ahead of potential trade offers.

Haden, 27, has been limited to five games this season due to a nagging groin injury. He's been inconsistent when in the lineup, putting together 21 tackles and two interceptions thus far. Pro Football Focus ranks Haden 29th among cornerbacks this season, noting solid-but-unspectacular performance against the pass and run.

While missing three games is less than ideal, Haden has performed well enough to re-establish himself as the Browns' top corner after missing 11 contests in 2015. 

"You've got a bunch of guys that I know look at me as a leader and I want to be out there playing with them and I want to be out there as much as I can. But just when freak stuff happens that you have no control of, it just sucks," Haden told reporters earlier this month.

The Browns will likely want an early-round pick for Haden, who doesn't turn 28 until April. He likely has a few good years left in his prime and could be a contributor when Cleveland expects to compete again. The Browns are, after all, expecting Terrelle Pryor, who is only two months younger than Haden, to be part of their future.

Haden's contract is tied up heavily in base salaries, so they could very easily restructure this offseason if needed. Cleveland is one of the most unburdened teams in football regarding the cap. It might just prefer to keep Haden semi-available and avoid placing any big guarantees on him going forward.

Josh Gordon 'Highly Unlikely' to be Traded

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Browns receiver Josh Gordon recently exited a rehabilitation facility but is not expected to return to the team. There were reports from September saying they fully planned on moving on from the troubled wideout, who has not played in an NFL game since the 2014 season.

It seemed likely the Browns would have to release Gordon for that to happen, but he's currently under an indefinite suspension. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported it's "highly unlikely" the Browns go the other route for divorce and ship him out of town via trade before Tuesday.

The team has had multiple opportunities to trade Gordon in the past and declined. However, this seems more like a situation where no teams are champing at the bit to make a deal.

Even something like a conditional late-round pick feels like a lot of compensation for a player who may never step foot on a football field again. Gordon is still only 25 and wildly talented, but he's shown no ability to keep himself on the right track away from the field. A two-year layoff, even at his relatively young age, isn't going to help him suddenly catapult back to Pro Bowl status.

A team may wind up rolling the dice on Gordon once the Browns officially cut bait. But there are likely only a select few who would give him consideration, and none of them are going to offer Cleveland any tangible compensation when he'll be available for free at some point.

Eagles, 49ers Talks Regarding Torrey Smith Still Alive

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Not too long ago, it seemed like Torrey Smith would be heading to Philadelphia. The Eagles are still looking for a deep threat, and the 49ers have done almost nothing with Smith since signing him to a big contract last offseason. Smith set career lows in every receiving category last season and is on his way to even worse numbers in 2016.

“I look at it: I’m only 27 years old, I’m young, I’m still very fast. I’m still getting open,” Smith told reporters. “I’ve just got to make plays when the ball comes my way, and I will.”

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com later reported the 49ers had no plans on shopping Smith. The 49ers owe Smith $6.5 million in base salaries each of the next three seasons, but their guaranteed financial commitment is minimal.

The Eagles being interested in another receiver seems a little off, given the fact they've spent a lot of draft picks on young guys and traded for Dorial Green-Beckham. Their top three receivers are all 24 or younger, and it would make sense on paper to have them grow with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. Smith is a solid downfield threat, but the Eagles haven't shown a proclivity for taking shots down the field at all this season.

Despite this, Florio reported the Eagles are still on the market for a receiver and remain interested in Smith. The odds of a deal getting done before the deadline seem slim at this point, and Philly probably shouldn't be tossing picks to the wayside after unloading a bunch to acquire Wentz.

But we've seen far stranger things happen.