NFL Trade Rumors: Joe Staley, Jared Cook and More Buzz

The NFL trade deadline rarely generates blockbuster deals, but this year there are nevertheless a slew of quality, veteran players who appear to be on the trade block.

Let's break down a few of the more popular rumors making the rounds.

Joe Staley

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

With the San Francisco 49ers' season in turmoil after a 2-6 start, the team could entertain moving a number of veterans. Tight end Vernon Davis was already traded to the Denver Broncos, as announced on Denver's official site, and now offensive lineman Joe Staley is apparently on the trade block as well.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports provided more on the possibility of the team trading the veteran offensive lineman:

Staley, 31, is a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time second-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press. He would undoubtedly be an upgrade at tackle for several contending teams and could be a part of a widespread fire sale in the wake of Colin Kaepernick's benching, as it appears that the Niners are waving the white flag on this season. 

Jared Cook

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

With Davis moved, Jared Cook became the next player up for teams looking to bolster at tight end.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Cook was on the block on Sunday, and Cook played his part, catching three passes for 57 yards against the San Francisco 49ers, his most receiving yards since Week 1.

He seems pretty immune to the trade rumors at this point, which have been making the rounds for weeks now.

"If there was something I needed to know, they would have told me," Cook said two weeks ago when the rumors started circulating, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "There’s a lot of people that put things out there that really isn’t credible a lot of the times, everywhere around the world. It’s your choice to pay attention to it, it’s your choice to take in what they are saying, or it’s your choice to ignore it."

Cook brings plus athleticism to the position, though he remains one of the more frustratingly inconsistent players at tight end. On the right offense, however, Cook could be a valuable asset for his abilities to stretch defenses down the seam and make plays after the catch, given his speed and athleticism. 

With the Rams thick in the midst of the playoff hunt, however, moving Cook seems unlikely.

Willie Young

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

While Staley and Cook haven't publicly given any indication that they want to be moved, Chicago Bears pass-rusher Willie Young seems to be looking for a way out, according to La Canfora:

Young posted a career-high 10 sacks with the Bears last season but has struggled in the move to a 3-4 scheme under new head coach John Fox, posting just one sack and four tackles this season. And Young barely played this past week against the Minnesota Vikings, a further indication that he simply doesn't fit in Chicago.

The Bears find themselves in a precarious position with Young. On one hand, moving him would leave them thin at outside linebacker. On the other hand, Young is a prototypical 4-3 defensive end who isn't playing up to his contract right now and, it would appear, isn't happy in Chicago. 

He'll surely garner interest from 4-3 teams that need to add some bite to their pass rushes. Whether the Bears will field those calls and entertain moving Young is harder to predict.