NFL Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Matt Forte, Willie Young After Week 4

The NFL trade wheels have surprisingly been turning throughout 2015, with the likes of Jared Allen, Christine Michael, Matt Cassel and Jon Bostic already on the move.

While that's not exactly a murderer's row of talent, it represents an anomaly for the typically trade-averse NFL. In-season trades are difficult in football simply because of the schematic adjustments needed for players to make an impact. In baseball, basketball and hockey, the adjustment period is far lesser. Getting acclimated to a new locker room is just as, if not more, important than any adjustments that are needed on the field of play.

In the NFL, it's the opposite. Language varies greatly from team-to-team, even in the context of similar defensive and offensive alignments. It's therefore rare that you see a true difference maker shipped out, though there are rare exceptions.

The Chicago Bears might represent the best opportunity for one such instance in 2015. Having already jettisoned Allen and Bostic, Chicago's 1-3 record makes it the league's most intriguing trade partner. The roster is in obvious need of a rebuild, yet has a number of effective veterans who could help teams. With that in mind, let's check in on a couple Bears who are making waves on the trade market.

RB Matt Forte

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Forte's two months away from turning 30. In NFL terms, he's basically two months away from being considered a corpse. Running backs after 30 have a dreadful history, and Forte's received a steady dose of work since his NFL arrival. He'll pass the 2,000-carry and possibly the 500-catch mark this season and has never missed more than four games.

More importantly: Forte's a free agent after this season. Odds are, this is his last season in Chicago. The Bears probably don't want to pay an aging running back as they prepare for their overhaul, and Forte would be smart to look for a situation where he could compete for a Super Bowl.

So why not part ways now? Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported the Bears are willing to listen to offers on Forte, though they're not ready for a fire sale just yet.

“They're not just going to give him away,” a source told La Canfora. “There has to be value in the trade. It won't just be a salary dump.”

On a number of levels, this makes sense. Forte's still a highly effective player. He's averaging 4.4 yards per carry, is an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield and has a longstanding rapport with quarterback Jay Cutler.

On the other hand, just, like, take a mid-round pick and move on already. Teams are going to be more willing now than in a few weeks to give up a legitimate asset. Trading Forte in Week 5 gives whatever team that acquires him 13 weeks and at least 12 games worth of action. That gives him plenty of time to learn a new system before the regular season truly heats up; adding him around the deadline basically means he'll be thrown into the fire without a net.

La Canfora notes the Bears are currently asking for a second- or third-round pick in exchange. That's...not realistic. The most talented rookie running backs last into the second round nowadays, outside the rare Todd Gurley-level exception. Running back is now more than ever seen as a fungible position. Even if a team gets desperate for a difference-maker at the position, I'd be surprised if a second-day selection ever comes on the table.

LB Willie Young

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

It's clear some teams could use Forte on their roster. Willie Young, on the other hand, is a more interesting case. After posting 10 sacks as part of a career-best 2014, Young has struggled mightily with the Bears' transition to a 3-4 defense. He was inactive for the team's Week 3 loss to Seattle and did not record a defensive statistic Sunday against Oakland.

Overall, Young has posted two total tackles and doesn't have a sack. During the preseason, it was actually a mild surprise that he made the roster altogether.

That hasn't stopped Young from pushing for an exit of his own. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Young has asked to be traded following Allen's move to Carolina. Allen struggled with his switch to outside linebacker and was sent to a team with a more comfortable 4-3 alignment.

Young would prefer the same treatment, but his market will be limited. It's fair to wonder how much of his struggles can be attributed to a schematic change and how much is caused by an Achilles rupture that ended his 2014 campaign. With a base salary of $2.45 million each of the next two seasons, per Spotrac.com, Young could either be a value for a team if he's back at his 2014 production level or someone who's on the cut line almost immediately if he struggles.

It's worth noting that Young had six career sacks before arriving in Chicago. This is someone, essentially, with a 16-game sample of above-average effectiveness trying to force his will. The Bears are probably willing to trade him for next to nothing—a conditional seventh-round pick—but there may not be all that many teams willing to even give up that much.

Word to the (un)wise: Trade demands only work when you have leverage. 

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