NFL Trade Rumors: Examining Buzz, Outlook for Vernon Davis, Matt Forte and More

The 2015 NFL trade deadline hits on Tuesday, Nov. 3, so it's worth examining the latest buzz on the big-name players who are at least being implicated as candidates to change teams.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis is among a group of past Pro Bowlers who ought to be considered on the block. Another struggling NFC team in the Chicago Bears have already made multiple trades this year and may ship away star running back Matt Forte.

Read on to find out more on the rumors surrounding Davis, Forte and another veteran who actually plays for a playoff contender.

Vernon Davis

There's no excuse for a player of Davis' caliber not to be producing more. Part of that is on San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick's regression. Davis also isn't the player he was in his absolute prime.

Nevertheless, he did show signs of life in Week 7 with four receptions for 61 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora provided commentary on that performance in reporting multiple suitors have inquired about Davis prior to the deadline:

Davis has been with the 49ers for his entire career and recently spoke about his feelings on a prospective trade.

"You have to understand, after all of this, it's a business," said Davis, per CSNBayArea.com's Matt Maiocco. "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."

But a change of scenery to a contender with a superior QB and a realistic chance at the Super Bowl may change Davis' mind regarding a potential move. Plus, the 31-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so the Niners may as well get compensation for him while they can.

Otherwise, it's going to be a waiting game to see whether San Francisco loses enough to choose high in the draft and replace Kaepernick under center with a more capable passer. Commendable as it is for Davis to remain loyal to the 49ers through their current adversity, it makes sense for both sides to part ways.

Trades are rare as it is, but among the players in question, Davis is the likeliest to change uniforms before the 2015 campaign concludes.

Matt Forte

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided an update this past Sunday regarding Forte's future in the Windy City, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. Rapoport indicates the Bears are willing to deal key pieces amid a rebuild, but don't expect anything in return for Forte because of his big salary and age.

Another free agent-to-be who's remained with one team for his entire time in the NFL, Forte is different from Davis in that his statistics haven't declined drastically. 

Forte ranks seventh in the league in rushing yards per contest, and he has received worse run blocking in Football Outsiders' rankings than all but one other player ahead of him. That would be Todd Gurley, who's a human cheat code.

Josh Moore of 4for4 Football illustrates how instrumental Forte is to Chicago's offense:

It's hard to imagine where the 2-4 Bears would be without Forte—especially with the injuries that have ravaged their receiving corps.

ESPN.com has Forte on pace for 1,861 yards from scrimmage if he keeps up his current production. At age 29, he's yet to show signs of wearing down despite a regular workload and heavy involvement in the passing game.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler needs all the help he can get as he tries to salvage a decent season in Chicago. If Forte is cast away, perhaps it will pay dividends in 2016 and beyond, but that could also mean the Bears are preparing to move on from their overpaid signal-caller since they aren't willing to help him now.

Roddy White

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Yet another player who's remained with the team that drafted him, White has taken a backseat in the Atlanta Falcons' offense this season.

In an article on NFL.com, Conor Orr notes three teams were reportedly interested in White earlier this month, according to Rapoport. Furthermore, Rapoport mentions him in the aforementioned report as well, per Patra:

"

[White] has openly mused about what his 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.

"

White hauled in three receptions for 48 yards on four targets in Week 7's 10-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans. If Atlanta struggles on offense at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday and White isn't more prominently featured, perhaps trade talks involving the 33-year-old Falcons cornerstone will ignite.

The question is where White would rather be than in Atlanta. He has arguably the game's best wideout opposite him in Julio Jones, so he should be able to draw favorable matchups on the outside for the rest of the season.

Furthermore, the Falcons have a 6-1 record, a vastly improved rushing attack and a defense that's made huge leaps under first-year head coach Dan Quinn's watch. Atlanta has legitimate hopes of making a deep playoff run.

If QB Matt Ryan can give White a little more love and feast on a Buccaneers defense ranked last in points allowed per game, about all the trade talk will have been quelled. It's hard not to agree with Rapoport in asserting White will stay put, along with Forte.