NFL Trade Deadline 2015: Analyzing Rumors on Vernon Davis, Jared Cook and More

The Nov. 3 NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching with a lot of rumors and little activity to this point. It's not a surprise because most deals that get discussed don't end up happening for one reason or another.

If ever there were a season in which deals would happen, though, this would be it. There are currently 18 teams with losing records. That number will likely go down after Sunday's games, but nearing the halfway point with even a .500 record doesn't exactly make you a Super Bowl contender.

NFL deals are more complex than most sports because of the salary cap and the fact teams don't want to give up draft picks now since they can be more valuable to a deal after the season.

Regardless, that isn't stopping clubs from kicking the tires on trades that could have a profound impact on the season's second half. 

End of Vernon Davis' San Francisco Tenure?

Coming off another embarrassing offensive performance, this time in Week 7 against Seattle, the San Francisco 49ers have to accept the reality that whatever the plan for 2015 was, it's not going to happen.

However, that shouldn't prevent general manager Trent Baalke from trying to cash in on some of his most valuable assets. One name consistently being bandied around, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, is tight end Vernon Davis:

The 49ers have no incentive to keep Davis. He's 31 years old, in the final year of his contract and has started to see his playing time decrease, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area:

Even though San Francisco doesn't seem to know how to utilize Davis anymore, he's still got great value. This has been a strong rebound season for the 10-year veteran, averaging 14.2 yards per reception even though he's still trying to find the end zone.

One potential fit would be the Denver Broncos. They called the 49ers about Davis in the offseason, according to Denver radio host Benjamin Allbright, before signing Owen Daniels. 

Peyton Manning's struggles this season have been well-documented, so giving him a reliable safety net at tight end with big-play capability can help open things up. 

The Broncos have won all six games this season thanks to a ferocious defense. They are built to win a championship but need more offensive weapons to help their aging quarterback.

Denver started the season with roughly $7 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, so Davis' salary isn't going to be an issue.

The 49ers should be able to parlay Davis into a conditional pick based on playing time or other incentives. Stockpiling draft picks is what they should be focused on right now.

Jared Cook, the Other NFC West Trade Chip

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Even though Davis is the marquee NFC West tight end available, the St. Louis Rams aren't opposed to taking offers for Jared Cook. 

La Canfora reported on both tight ends in a report on CBS Sports:

"

Several teams are exploring upgrading at tight end ahead of next month's NFL trade deadline, with the 49ers and Rams fielding recent calls exploring the availability of Vernon Davis and Jared Cook, respectively, according to multiple league sources. Both clubs appear open to that possibility, and while no deals are imminent at this time, they could well come to pass prior to the Nov. 3 deadline.

"

One key difference between Davis and Cook, which La Canfora mentions, is Cook has two more seasons and a $14.1 million base salary through 2017 left on his contract. 

That kind of cap maneuvering midseason may not be something interested teams can pull off, though Cook does have his strengths. He's more than three years younger than Davis and has only missed five games in seven seasons so far.

Also encouraging is the fact Cook has been able to remain consistent with at least 44 receptions in each of the past four seasons despite inconsistent quarterback play from the likes of Sam Bradford and Austin Davis. 

All things being equal, interested teams would probably prefer Cook to Davis because of the age gap. However, the contract situation does swing the pendulum back toward Davis.

The Rams need to figure out what they are right now, entering Week 7 against Cleveland with a 2-3 record. If winning now is essential for head coach Jeff Fisher to retain his job, expect Cook to remain in St. Louis.

The Deadline Wild Card

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Off to another bad start, the Chicago Bears started selling off their aging veterans by dealing Jared Allen to Carolina on Sept. 28. 

That seems to have been the first domino to fall, as Jeff Dickerson of ESPN dropped a helpful nugget on Friday.

"With the NFL trade deadline set for Nov. 3, the Bears will no doubt listen to offers for key players," Dickerson wrote.

Dickerson also added that Bears general manager Ryan Pace has no desire to "give assets away" and wants to receive fair compensation for any potential deal. 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Oct. 4 that Matt Forte would seem like a strong candidate to be moved because he's in the final year of his contract and at an age (29) when running backs reach the downside of their career.

Rapoport also noted the only players Chicago likely wouldn't deal, barring a massive offer, include wide receivers Kevin White and Alshon Jeffery, offensive tackle Kyle Long, cornerback Kyle Fuller and linebacker Pernell McPhee. 

Forte has been one of the few bright spots for the Bears this season, as he leads the league in rushing attempts (126) and yards (507) through six games. 

Like the 49ers with Davis, the Bears have no obvious incentive to keep Forte other than liking the player. This franchise is biding time until it can take on a full rebuild, which could be difficult with quarterback Jay Cutler, who is under contract through 2020.

It seems with as many potential pieces as Pace could put on the market, the Bears would have to make at least one more deal. It may not be a franchise-altering move, but as long as it scores future assets to work with, it would be worth it.

Stats via ESPN unless otherwise noted.