NFL Trade Deadline 2014: Rumors and Predictions for Top Names Making the Rounds

Percy Harvin did not spoil the fun of the 2014 NFL trade deadline, folks. 

Despite Harvin taking his talents east to play for the New York Jets in a blockbuster deal, plenty of other major names allegedly sit on the block at the moment and may or may not be dealt before Tuesday's deadline.

Now, those names actually heading to new homes is a different conversation entirely. It seems that most major moves each year come entirely out of left field, while the most talked-about stuff usually leads to nothing.

But like the start of a season for even the worst teams, perhaps this is the year that changes.

Buccaneers on the Block

As expected, at least one horrific team with a season already in the books is set to have a fire sale. 

This year, that team may turn out to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, star wideout Vincent Jackson may be on the move quite soon:

The notion makes sense. The 1-6 Buccaneers are headed all of nowhere, and at the age of 31, a move to a contender would do Jackson well.

Jackson had himself a string of three straight seasons entering this year in which he posted a minimum of 1,100 yards and seven scores. As a byproduct of a miserable quarterback situation, he has just 357 yards and a pair of scores through seven games.

Still, Jackson may cost entirely too much. ESPN's Chris Mortensen, by way of Rotoworld.com's Evan Silva, hears that the veteran wideout will stay put:

In fact, ESPN's Adam Schefter hears that back Doug Martin is more important on the market at this stage:

Of course Martin is, as his cost will be relatively cheap. Not only does Martin play a crumbling position in terms of importance, he is in the midst of a serious down year while surrendering carries to players such as Bobby Rainey and Mike James, not to mention the impending arrival of rookie Charles Sims.

Martin has wicked upside, hence the interest. A former first-round pick, he is the guy who rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns on a 4.6 per-carry average as a rookie. It makes sense, then, that a team such as the Miami Dolphins—which lost starter Knowshon Moreno for the year—would like to potentially add Martin, as noted by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald:

That also goes for another team such as the New England Patriots, which also suffered a major setback with the loss of Stevan Ridley.

While the Patriots note seems like speculation at best, the tried-and-true Tampa Bay-New England pipeline makes sense in this regard. While Jackson is too expensive unless a team such as the Cleveland Browns wants to splurge, Martin getting shipped out of town as the odd man out in a committee approach makes a ton of sense.

Prediction: Jackson remains in Tampa Bay, Martin gets shipped to New England.

Safeties on the Move?

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It seems the Philadelphia Eagles are single-handedly stirring up the safety market before the deadline.

Per Rapoport, the Eagles want to upgrade the spot, and a few names come to mind for the man in the know:

Right now, the Eagles roll with free-agent acquisition Malcolm Jenkins and Nate Allen at the spot. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former is the No. 6 overall safety in the league at the moment, while the latter is a weak link, coming in at No. 55.

Tampa Bay also wanting to get rid of Dashon Goldson makes sense, as the 30-year-old veteran is due $9 million this season, as well as $8 million in the two years after before a $7.25 million mark in 2017, per Spotrac.

Goldson's play has fallen off a cliff as of late, as he comes in at No. 76 on that same PFF list. 

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The story is much of the same for Michael Griffin of the Tennessee Titans. Now 29, Griffin comes in one spot behind Goldson on that PFF list and is due a minimum of $8 million this year and the two years after, per Spotrac.

It should be noted that Eagles coach Chip Kelly is not publicly posturing as a man who wants to upgrade at the position.

"A lot of times the people who float that are the people who want their safeties picked up," Kelly said, per Zach Berman of Philly.com. "I may look into that, but we're not actively looking to upgrade anything."

If the Eagles are serious about beefing up the spot next to Jenkins, one can feel safe in presuming it will not be in a trade for Goldson or Griffin. Both names are the typical veterans with big contracts who no teams pounce on at the deadline, as both are likely to end up on the free market sooner or later.

Prediction: Goldson and Griffin stay put for the time being; Eagles stay the course at safety.