NFL Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Matt Forte, Roddy White and More

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 3, and rumors are certainly flying. There are not as many blockbuster trades before the deadline as say in the NBA or MLB, but there are 20 teams with win totals between three and six games. That kind of parity leaves plenty of teams still in the playoff hunt and looking to add players.

Don't expect an Aaron Rodgers- or Adrian Peterson-type player to be shipped off, but there are some savvy veterans who could be on the market.

Let's take a look at who might be on the move: 

Chicago Bears Will Make Moves, but Will They Involve Forte?

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

The Bears are a mess. At 2-4, with both victories coming on the final drive against two bad teams, it's been a rough season. Their next five games include road trips to play the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers. In other words, they have no shot at a playoff berth this season. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said running back Matt Forte is a candidate to be traded. Speaking Sunday on NFL Network's GameDay First (per Kevin Patra), Rapoport first gave his thoughts on Forte:

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It's clear this is a rebuilding year for the Bears with a new regime. They are open, I am told, to trading really a lot of their key parts, mainly because they would like draft picks. At this point nothing is expected from Forte, because of his age, because of his salary.

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Forte is in the final season of a four-year, $30.4 million contract, and he is owed $7.05 million this year, in addition to about $1.1 million in bonuses. He also will be the dreaded age 30 next season, which is when many running backs start to see a decline in production. Although, Forte is on pace for about 1,350 yards and five rushing touchdowns this season, which would be a slight improvement from last season. 

The Bears aren't moving quarterback Jay Cutler because of his outrageous $126 million contract through 2020 and have a good shot at picking in the top five of next year's NFL draft. If they could add a couple of early-round draft picks for Forte, they could start to rebuild their offense around some younger players to go along with talented wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

However, teams aren't going to just throw around first-round draft picks without other incentives involved, even for a guy like Forte. Trent Richardson, a former 2012 first-round pick who had a solid rookie year but is nowhere near the player Forte is, was traded in 2013 from the Cleveland Browns to the Indianapolis Colts for a future first-round pick. The Colts eventually released an unproductive Richardson in March. Most teams aren't thrilled with the thought of taking on a player who has a lot of miles like Forte for the potential to draft a young, talented player.

The one problem the Bears would face if they do pull off a trade is that the team's second-leading rusher behind Forte is actually Cutler, with 82 yards. Jacquizz Rodgers is the next running back in line in terms of yards, but he carried only 14 times for 41 yards before he landed on injured reserve earlier this month. Jeremy Langford has the team's other two rushing touchdowns, but has only carried the ball 15 times. It wouldn't hurt the team too much this season because the Bears aren't going anywhere, but they would need to hurry and find a good option for 2016, or a trade could backfire.

Falcons May Not Be Able to Move White Even If They Try

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Roddy White has had a great career with the Falcons, catching nearly 800 balls for more than 10,000 yards and 63 touchdowns. However, after catching 100-plus passes in 2010 and 2011, he has not reached more than 92 in a season since. His 14 catches this year are concerning, and his 25 targets mean quarterback Matt Ryan is not looking his way often. 

White won't be a free agent until 2018 and could make more than $12 million over the next two seasons, which is a lot for a 34-year-old receiver if he is only going to catch 35-40 passes each year. Rapoport (per Patra) said the team is not willing right now to trade him, but even if Atlanta does start to shop him, that doesn't mean anyone is willing to take him on. 

Rapoport also said Sunday that White, who has 779 career catches, but just 14 through seven games this year, isn't really fitting in to the Falcons offense so far this season.

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He has openly mused about what his (role) in this offense is, he is too often the third and fourth option for this team. He loves Atlanta, doesn't want to go anywhere. It doesn't sound like (the Falcons) are motivated to move him, but will a team change their mind as we get closer to next Tuesday.

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It may be more in the team's best interest to hold onto him and hope he can rebuild a rapport with Ryan, who he has been playing with since 2008. 

Davis and San Francisco 49ers May Part Ways

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Tight end Vernon Davis has seen his production drop in three of the past four seasons and has just 12 receptions and zero touchdowns through five games this season. The 49ers are in a tailspin, and it may be time to blow up the team and start over. The Niners signed quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a six-year, $114 million contract this past offseason, which could keep the team from signing big-name players.

Davis is a free agent after this season, and most likely San Francisco won't offer what he may be commanding because of his down season this year, and his quarterback's current contract. At this point, however, Davis isn't looking to leave the only team that has employed him, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com:

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I’ve been a Niner for 10 years. This is all I know. It’s really not about me being upset. I understand the nature of the business. It’s a business—it is. If anyone was somewhere for 10 years, they’d be highly upset, highly disappointed.

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He's right in the fact that the NFL is a business—and a big one at that. There could be a contender out there in need of a veteran tight end such as the Miami Dolphins or Indianapolis Colts, but with an expiring contract—and skills—San Francisco shouldn't expect much more than a late-round pick for Davis.

According to CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, there could be teams willing to make that offer.

Davis may not want to go, but he won't have a choice if the 49ers want to go in a different direction. Like he said, it's a business, and he may not fit in the future plans for San Francisco.