NFL Trade Scenarios: 5 Trade Deadline Deals We Could See in 2011

As the NFL lockout continues, so does the free agent and trade speculation.

Trades in the NFL are not nearly as common as in the other major sports, but they do still occur at times.

Without the ability to make trades during the NFL draft, and with a shorter transaction period than typical because of the lockout, we could see more trades than usual this season when the trade deadline approaches.

Here is a look at five players who could end up traded this season before the deadline strikes following Week 6.

Steve Slaton

Slaton has found himself in a crowded backfield in Houston, and he will likely be the odd man out at some point this season.

I could see the Texans looking to deal Slaton by the trade deadline as Arian Foster will be the featured back, and Ben Tate will be back after suffering a season-ending injury in the preseason as a rookie.

Slaton could be a solid addition for a team looking for some added production from the running back spot considering the fact that he did run for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season during the 2008 campaign.

Larry English

English has failed to make the kind of impact that the Chargers were hoping for when they took him in the first round of the draft two years ago.

English has just five sacks in his two seasons and 53 total tackles, but a team could view him as a potential steal if they can help him turn things around.

At the same time, it has only been two seasons, and some guys take longer than others to develop at the NFL level. Unfortunately for English, teams expect results right away these days, and he has not been producing at a high enough level to this point.

Nate Clements

Clements could find himself getting traded if the Niners struggle coming out of the blocks this season.

While a deadline deal might not be the most likely scenario when it comes to a Clements' trade, it is still a possibility if the team decides they need to move in another direction, and they can't wait until the end of the season.

Clements still has some left in the tank, although he is certainly not worth the eight-year $80 million deal that he signed in 2007 at this point in his career.

Kyle Orton

Orton could easily be traded before the start of the season if new coach John Fox decides that he is expendable now that Tim Tebow is the team's likely starter.

Orton could be a big upgrade for a team that fails to resolve their quarterback issues before the season starts, and I think he would be a good fit for the Dolphins if they are to get off to a poor start with Chad Henne at quarterback.

If Orton is still a Bronco once the season starts, he could become one of the most sought after players when the deadline approaches.

Carson Palmer

The Bengals and Carson Palmer both appear to be holding their ground when it comes to a potential trade.

Cincinnati says they will not move Palmer, and Palmer says he will not play if he is not moved. I believe that the Bengals will ultimately give in and trade their veteran quarterback instead of getting nothing for him.

The Bengals could get desperate by the time the trade deadline rolls around and decide that moving Palmer would be in their best interest.