20 NFL Players Who Are Quietly on the Trading Block

Trade rumors have been highlighting the NFL press for sometime now, along with the CBA talk which looks to finally be coming to a close.

The obvious reports are that Kevin Kolb will be in a new jersey somewhere this season, Chad Ochocinco might be getting shipped out and Kyle Orton is even a possibility, but what about the players behind the lines?

Those players who might be getting traded that we haven't heard about yet, we can only speculate.

Take into account that this is an opinion piece, and not all of these trades will happen, possibly none of them will happen, but it never hurts to speculate or take a wild, shot in the dark guess.

Here are 20 players that could be traded this season.

20. Thomas Jones: Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City is on the rise, and they don't want to take any steps back at this point. They have one of the best running backs in the league with Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones is a great secondary option as well.

Jones will be a free agent in 2012 making this his contract year. He may just be worth a draft pick through a trade or even more.

On top of that, he can help a team that's a contender or he could just be mean more cap room to free up for the Chiefs.

Of course this is an opinion and just peer speculation, but Jones could end up getting traded for a pick or possibly another player that can help the Chiefs continue their rise.

19. Harry Douglas: Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Julio Jones, and they gave up a whole lot to get him. Not saying that Jones is going to replace Harry Douglas, but he's going to end up being a better option.

Douglas had just 22 receptions last season for 294 yards and a touchdown, but he played in just three games.

Douglas is in a contract year and the Falcons could move him to another team for a possible draft pick or another player. After giving up so much for Jones, another draft pick could come in handy.

18. Limas Sweed: Pittsburgh Steelers

Limas Sweed didn't play at all in 2010, and he hasn't lived up to the Steelers expectations as being a tall athletic receiver who can stretch the field and be a big-time playmaker.

That being said, he's probably not in high demand as potential trade bait, but there could still be a team out there who believes he has promise.

Sweed was a very good and skilled receiver in college and at 26, he still has plenty of potential to be a good professional receiver. The Steelers could end up giving him more time, but it is his contract year, so they may want to get something in return for a missed opportunity.

17. Donald Lee: Green Bay Packers

Donald Lee hasn't been quite as good as he was in Brett Favre's final season in Green Bay when the Packers fell just shy of going to the Super Bowl and Lee became a household name.

He didn't exactly contribute this year either, in the regular season or the postseason. The Packers will get Jermichael Finley back, who is their star tight end, so they might want to try and get something out of Lee through a trade.

At 30 years old, Lee might still have a chance to be a tight end that is productive for another team. Not saying he isn't productive for the Packers, but he's almost a name in the past now.

The Packers could end up getting some value out of Lee if they decide to trade him.

16. Visanthe Shiancoe: Minnesota Vikings

This is a wild-card guess here judging by how good Visanthe Shiancoe has been for the Vikings these past few seasons, but they still drafted Kyle Rudolph in this year's draft, so that has to mean something.

Rudolph can learn a lot from Shiancoe, but he was drafted to be the replacement so the Vikings could end up shipping Shiancoe away for either a draft pick or another player, and the Vikings are in need of some good players.

This is a long shot, but if the Vikings want to continue to be on the rise, they may look to add another player of need, especially if that player is on the defensive side where the Vikings desperately need players.

15. Rashean Mathis: Jacksonville Jaguars

Rashean Mathis is probably the best player on the Jaguars defense, and it's probably insane to think of the Jags even thinking about trading him, but it's his contract season, and he will be looking for a fat contract at the end of it.

Mathis had a good year in 2010, he didn't have as many interceptions as the Jaguars would have liked, one, but he still managed to have 57 tackles.

Mathis will be 31 at the end of this season, which is on the border line of being old for his position, but if he were to be traded, there are teams out there that need help in their secondary, and Mathis could be a nice answer.

14. Amobi Okoye: Houston Texans

Amobi Okoye is just 24 years old, and he still has plenty left in the tank, so this is a long shot. The Texans put a lot of stock in him, and he works good on their defensive line, but they could get a lot back from trading him.

Okoye hasn't even come close to reaching his full potential so other teams could be very interested in his services for their team, but the Texans love Okoye, and it might be too hard to part ways with him, but crazier things have happened.

13. Brady Quinn: Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow is the man in Denver now, which means that Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn will be on the trade market. Orton already is, but can teams get anything out of Quinn?

Quinn has been a bust so far, he hasn't been anything special, that's for sure, and he may have missed his window of opportunity to do anything in this league.

On the other hand, there could be a team out there that thinks he just needs a new home and an actual shot to compete for a starting job.

Quinn is still young and the Broncos could get a third- or fourth-round pick out of him, but then again, that might be pushing it.

12. Mark Tauscher: Green Bay Packers

Chad Clifton and Brian Buluga have the tackle positions locked up for the Packers, so this almost makes sense.

Mark Tauscher has been a good tackle in the league for some time and he could most likely start for other offensive lines in the league which makes him valuable.

The Packers could end up getting a nice pick out of him or a player. Either way, this would be a win-win situation for both sides.

11. Darnell Dockett: Arizona Cardinals

This is a little sketchy to put Darnell Dockett on this list, but the last time a player complained about a contract extension, it was Anquan Boldin, and he got shipped out. This being Dockett's contract year, the same situation could be on the horizon.

Dockett is a fan favorite in Arizona though, but so was Boldin. It almost seems like if your name isn't Larry Fitzgerald, you're not safe.

The Cardinals could demand as high as a first-round pick for Dockett, he's one of the best defensive tackles in the league and any contender would love to have him.

10. Roy Williams: Dallas Cowboys

This might just be something that's been in the works for a while, but then again it could be just pure speculation.

Roy Williams hasn't been great for the Cowboys, and with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant emerging as go-to receivers, do the Cowboys even need Williams?

It never hurts to have great receivers on the same team, but if the Cowboys could get some value through draft picks or players for Williams, it's at least something they will think about.

9. David Garrard: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags have the quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert, so could David Garrard be on the move?

They didn't hesitate to get rid of Byron Leftwich when he lost the starting spot, so could history repeat itself this season for Garrard?

Chances are the Jags will want to keep Garrard around to mentor Gabbert, but if Gabbert emerges as an instant star, the Jags could look to get something out of Garrard before it's too late.

8. Darius Heyward-Bey: Oakland Raiders

Darius Heyward-Bey has been nothing short of a disappointment so far, and the Raiders might not want to wait any longer for him. His contract isn't up until 2014, and his contract is rather heavy, but there could be a team out there willing to put their stock in him.

Heyward-Bey could be a huge surprise still and end up being a good receiver, but how much longer will Oakland have to wait?

They could try to get a player in return or a draft pick, and if that was the case it would be a major relief for them knowing that Heyward-Bey has been a bust so far.

7. Jamaal Anderson: Atlanta Falcons

Jamaal Anderson has been a bust, that's clear. He was a high first-round pick back in 2007, and he's yet to have a season with more than two sacks.

He's only 25 years old, but if he hasn't come around by now after four years, will he ever? Not to mention he's a backup.

He's still young enough to have a good career, but it won't be with Atlanta. Anderson could be a guy traded for another key position or a draft pick.

6. Todd Heap: Baltimore Ravens

Todd Heap has had a very nice career with the Baltimore Ravens. He's been the teams tight end for 10 years now, but the injuries are starting to take their toll, even though he did have 599 yards receiving last season with five touchdowns.

The Ravens drafted Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta a couple years ago, and both players have a lot of potential, so the Ravens could be looking to deal Heap while they still have time.

Heap could still be productive and could fit in to a lot of teams offensive schemes, so it wouldn't be a bad move on behalf of the Ravens.

5. Correl Buckhalter: Denver Broncos

It's been rumored that the Broncos are interested in signing free agent DeAngelo Williams, and if that does happen, the Broncos will look to get rid of one of their running backs.

Correll Buckhalter will be a free agent in 2013, and his contract isn't big, so he may be the odd man out.

Buckhalter is 32 years old, he's injury plagued and might not have a whole lot left in the tank anyway, so the Bronco's might not want to have him around and will look to get something out of him.

4. Shaun Hill: Detroit Lions

Shaun Hill played admirably in Matt Stafford's absence last season, and he could at least challenge to be a starter in this league if given the right opportunity.

The Lions could also look to move Drew Stanton, who didn't play bad filling in for Hill when Hill was injured, but they could probably get more out of Hill.

The Lions could look to add another player this season, especially if they are somewhat in the hunt in the NFC North, or they could be looking for another pick to help bolster their team for the future.

3. Buster Davis: San Diego Chargers

Buster Davis, a former first-rounder, might just be the definition of a bust. In his four-year career, he has 558 yards receiving with two touchdowns.

Davis is also in his contract year and the Chargers could and should try to get something out of him, if that's even possible anymore.

2. Keith Brooking: Dallas Cowboys

Keith Brooking has been a solid linebacker in the NFL for over a decade, but his backup at the moment, Sean Lee, looks to have a more promising 2011 season than Brooking.

Brooking is also in a contract year as well as teammate Bradie James, but the Cowboys are committed to James as well as the outside linebackers Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware.

Brooking could be moved sometime this season, especially is Lee passes him by and takes over as a starter.

Brooking is good even at 35 and is still producing, but the Cowboys could get entertain offers for him.

1. Steve Slaton: Houston Texans

Arian Foster was absolutely amazing last season and a large part of that was because Steve Slaton got injured, which makes Slaton dispensable, and it makes sense that the Texans would try to get something out of him.

Slaton, when healthy, isn't a bad back, but the injuries have slowed his progression, and now with Foster in the backfield, the Texans might want to see what they can get out of Slaton.

The Texans also have Derrick Ward, who had success in Tampa Bay and could have the same success as Foster's backup in Houston which would mean that Slaton is a sure bet to be traded.