NFL Trade Rumors: What's Holding Up 4 Potentially Massive Deals

The October 30 NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching, and there are several big-name players who could be on the move before it passes.

Unlike in the NBA or MLB, the NFL trade deadline doesn’t usually have the glitz and glamour of big-name trades and late-season power shifts. However, 2012 is the first season the deadline has been moved to Week 8.

Teams may have a better feeling for their strengths, weaknesses and chances of competing down the stretch. There’s also been more time for injuries to alter and define team’s fates.

Trades can immediately tend those wounds and allow contending teams to fill in those gaps.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest names and what could potentially be holding up their movement before the deadline.

Tim Tebow

ESPN New York blogger Rich Cimini said Tim Tebow may be on the trade block after the team worked out free-agent quarterback Kevin O’Connell on Tuesday.

It would make sense for the Jets to unload Tebow due to their inability to integrate him more successfully into their game plan. That ineffectiveness is apparent after recent reports indicated the Jets would be involving Tebow more in the offense.

That didn’t end up happening, and Tebow has continued to have a minimal role on offense.

The problem is that teams simply will not be willing to give up much, if anything, for Tebow’s services. There’s also, as Cimini pointed out, Jets owner Woody Johnson’s strong affinity for the polarizing mobile quarterback.

While it makes sense to move him, the Jets will likely be stubborn and keep Tebow. After all, he keeps the spotlight and media buzz about their team alive, and that’s something Rex Ryan and his team thrives on.

Dwayne Bowe

Dwayne Bowe wants out of Kansas City, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports.

Who wouldn't right now?

"

I can report this: Bowe wants out of KC very badly. Not exactly a revelation, but true.

— Jason Cole (@JasonColeYahoo) October 17, 2012"

The Chiefs are 1-5 and look inept offensively no matter who they line up at the quarterback position. The head coach Romeo Crennel and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll reunion has yielded about as much success as it did in Cleveland—nada.

Bowe, if you remember correctly, held out of training camp before agreeing to sign his franchise tender and reporting to the team during the late preseason.

The reason Bowe didn’t show, though, is because he’s looking for No. 1 wide receiver money. That may deter teams from making any type of move unless they can come to an extension agreement with the receiver.

A true contender may be willing to take a rental on him, but that would depend on the asking price. Kansas City would be wise to get what they can and move on at this point.

Some teams who are having relatively successful seasons and who are in need of wide receiver help are the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers and New York Jets.

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson hasn’t been the same since signing a monstrous 4-year, $53 million contract extension before the 2011 season.

The Arizona Cardinals are desperate for a back to fill the void left from the injured Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com opined on NBC Sports Network on Tuesday that the Cards look into this option. As Florio pointed out, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt is leaving all options on the table, and the 4-2 Cardinals would be best served by giving Johnson a look.

Still, the Cardinals’ offensive line is going through some of the same problems Johnson’s line is experiencing in Tennessee. Johnson’s blamed his line for his struggles and would likely find more of the same problems in Arizona.

Money and uncertainty about Johnson’s skills are the biggest hold ups in this scenario for the desperate Cards. The Tennessee Titans are also fresh off a big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and may not even be interested in making this deal.

Johnson is due $9 million in guaranteed salary if on the roster after the Super Bowl. If he continues to struggle, it may be worthwhile for the Titans to go this route and cut their losses as the team rebuilds.

Wes Welker

Earlier in the season, Wes Welker’s snap count was something of a hot topic in many circles. His drastic decrease in snaps and offseason holdout looked to signal the end of Welker’s era as a Patriots wide receiver.

Things have taken a drastic change since early on. Injuries have riddled the Patriots' receiving corps, and any plans they may have to augment Welker’s role with Julian Edelman have been silenced by those injuries and the outstanding play of Welker.

Stashing Welker, decreasing his reps and then trading him before the trade deadline would be very “Bill Belichick,” Mike Freeman of CBS Sports NFL Insider, said back in September.

Since then, Welker’s reps have increased as injuries to Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Edelman have changed the team’s personnel packages dramatically as a result.

Still, Welker has flourished with the added playing time over the past four weeks. After seeing a diminished role and fewer targets, he has looked very much like a key cog in the Patriots' offensive attack.

That’s why they may have a hard time moving him. It wouldn’t have been so difficult had things gone the way they had planned. The shift towards more two tight end sets and more Julian Edelman in the No. 2 receiver position haven’t been able to come to fruition.

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Mike Hoag Jr. is a Breaking News Team writer with Bleacher Report and also covers the NFL and the Cleveland Browns for the site.