NFL Trade Rumors: Buzz on Joe Thomas, Jason McCourty and More

The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, so the trade rumors are coming in fast and furious.

Of course, the NFL is a trade-averse league when compared to the other major sports, as teams so carefully calibrate their schemes and the number of players desired at each position, not to mention the risk of giving up assets for players who could go down at any moment in such a brutal sport.

Nevertheless, the NFL has already seen one headline-generating trade, with the San Francisco 49ers sending tight end Vernon Davis to the undefeated Denver Broncos, as ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported. Could more shakeups be on the way? Here's a look at some of the latest buzz emanating from the NFL.


Patriots Interested in Jason McCourty

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If there's one person to be feared and respected in trade talks, it's the cold, calculating Bill Belichick. He's not afraid to pull the trigger when the price is right, from sending Richard Seymour for a first-round pick in 2009 to acquiring cornerback Aqib Talib at the deadline in 2012.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Pats could again be interested in acquiring a corner midseason: 

Jason McCourty has just 15 tackles, one pass defensed and zero interceptions this season in four games. The 28-year-old is a solid player who doesn't usually miss much time, having played all 16 games each of the past three seasons. Perhaps Belichick believes New England can snag him on the cheap with his numbers slightly down this year.

McCourty would upgrade a unit that lost a huge talent in Darrelle Revis this offseason. Plus, his twin, Devin McCourty, might help him integrate into his new team more quickly than most players involved in deadline-day deals.

Belichick has stated he's open to making moves this season in the never-ending quest to improve his dynastic franchise.

“We’re always open to discussions,” Belichick said Monday on WEEI's Dale and Holley show, per NESN.com's Doug Kyed. “I think everybody in the league probably knows that. Our phone lines are open. Who knows? It’s hard to tell. It takes two to make a deal, and it has to be the right situation and all that.”

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Rapoport suggests in his post that this deal is unlikely to go down. The Titans have already made news Tuesday with the decision to fire head coach Ken Whisenhunt (3-20 in Tennessee), per ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky. They may not want to shake up the roster, especially the defense, which is fifth in the league in yards allowed and 14th in points against.

Another impediment to the deal would appear to be McCourty's contract. He's owed $6.8 million this season and $7 million through the next two, per Spotrac. New England has just $4.1 million in cap space. Of course, this kind of money could be an incentive for the Titans to unload him as they retool for their next head coach.

If the Titans want to add weapons to Marcus Mariota's disposal, New England might be willing to part ways with Brandon LaFell to make the numbers work.

The Patriots have done well with him sidelined for all but the past two games, and he has a $3.5 million cap hit this year and $3.8 million in 2016, per Spotrac.


Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns Updates

David Richard/Associated Press

Several Browns players have been mentioned as potential trade candidates ahead of the deadline. The player at the biggest impact position is left tackle Joe Thomas, an eight-time Pro Bowler at a position where consistency and talent are sacred traits in the pass-happy NFL. 

If the Browns do want to trade him, they don't appear to be making life simple for themselves. Per Rapoport and Schefter, the price tag for Thomas' services is especially steep:

The Browns had already tried to move him to Denver this season, per ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi:

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According to a source, the Browns had talks with the Denver Broncos early in the season after Denver lost left tackle Ryan Clady to injury in the preseason. The Broncos were willing to part with their first-round pick in 2016, but the Browns also asked for second-year linebacker Shaq Barrett, and that apparently killed the deal.

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With Broncos left tackle Ty Sambrailo now out for the rest of the season because of a need for shoulder surgery, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, it's possible that these two teams start talking again. Peyton Manning is old and increasingly fragile.

The Broncos' brilliant, bone-crushing defense makes Denver a clear-cut Super Bowl threat. The team can't afford to put Manning in jeopardy behind a banged-up offensive line. But the Browns' asking price for Thomas will have to come down.

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

A player whom the Browns appear to have more reasonable parameters for trading is outside linebacker Paul Kruger. Rapoport says the team is willing to pay some of his salary: 

After recording 11 sacks last season, Kruger has just half a quarterback takedown in 2015. A change of scenery might do him some good. A number of teams could use a good pass-rusher.

The Raiders, a team on the rise, could use him as a veteran boost behind Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith. Buffalo, Atlanta and both New York teams are at the bottom in the league in sacks.