NFL Trade Deadline 2015: Rumors and Buzz on Matt Forte, Vernon Davis and More

The NFL trade deadline never offers the sizzle or big deals of its MLB, NHL and NBA counterparts, but there are nonetheless some interesting names being circulated before this year's Nov. 3 deadline. Let's break down some of the buzz as teams look to bolster their rosters for the playoff run.

Matt Forte

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

With the Chicago Bears mired in a 2-4 season and multiple teams needing help at running back, Matt Forte has become a popular name on the trade market. And it sounds like the Bears aren't above making changes to the roster.

As Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network's GameDay First on Sunday (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com), "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."

So essentially, if the right deal came down the pike, the Bears would move Forte, but it's unlikely a team would actually make a fair offer for a player of his age and salary. That adds up. 

Still, Forte could be a game-changer for a team like the Dallas Cowboys or perhaps the Denver Broncos, teams that have playoff-caliber rosters but are weak at the running back position. Forte is as good as it gets at running back and has accumulated 698 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns this season.

A danger both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield, Forte would instantly make an offense better with his versatility, reliability and consistency. He's missed just five games in his career, has never rushed for less than 900 yards in a season and has never finished with fewer than 40 catches. 

But yes, at the age of 30 and a pending free agency in 2016, Forte is a bit of a risk since he'd likely only be a rental for a team.

Vernon Davis and Jared Cook

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Vernon Davis finally re-emerged for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. After going without a catch since Week 2, he caught four passes for 61 yards in the team's loss to Seattle on Thursday night.

And that might just make him appealing to teams on the trade market, along with another NFC West tight end, Jared Cook of the St. Louis Rams. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noted both players have garnered interest before the trade deadline:

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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.

The 49ers and Rams have not begun shopping those players to all comers, but it is widely held among other teams that they could be had, and teams will continue to monitor that market and determine price points for those players up until the deadline.

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Davis, however, has no desire to be moved, as he told 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.

But you have to understand, after all of this, it's a business. I have no intention of going anywhere. But sometimes things happen and you just have to be prepared for it. I think anyone would be upset.

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A change of scenery probably wouldn't be the worst thing for a player who was one of the finest options at the position for much of his career before really struggling the past two seasons. It doesn't sound like he's particularly thrilled about the idea, however, and it's unlikely too many teams would be thrilled with the 31-year-old's lack of production over his past 19 games (38 catches for 415 yards and two touchdowns).

Cook, meanwhile, has always been a bit of an enigma. Despite being blessed with elite physical tools, the 28-year-old has never caught more than five touchdowns in a season, has caught 50 or more passes just twice and has reached 700 receiving yards in a season just once. While he is a dangerous target down the seam and combines excellent size with plus athleticism, his inconsistency has hampered his career. 

Still, for a team looking to upgrade at the position, Cook is an intriguing project to bring aboard. In the right scheme, he can be a playmaker, and he can be a tough matchup for defenses.