NFL Rumors: Rounding Up Trade Buzz Ahead of Free Agency

NFL free agency kicks off on Monday, as teams are allowed to begin negotiating with players.

As deals get set early in the week, teams are then officially allowed to ink players to contracts beginning on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. 

The free-agency period often brings about a rise in trade discussions, especially after teams miss out on the first wave of high-profile players. 

Here's a look at four players whose names have already been tossed around as potential trade targets in the coming weeks and months. 

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

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Prior to the combine, NFL Network's Rand Getlin reported that Colin Kaepernick had requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. 

Moving Kaepernick shouldn't be difficult based on his team-friendly contract. 

In essence, Kaepernick's deal is a series of one-year contracts, with his future franchise holding a team option at the end of each season. 

Given the lack of viable starting quarterbacks on the free-agent market, it's likely that a quarterback-needy team will roll the dice on Kaepernick, knowing they can dump him at the end of 2016 if he doesn't live up to expectations. 

Nick Foles, Los Angeles Rams

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The lack of quarterbacks on the free-agent market also makes Nick Foles a potential trade target in the coming months.

On Friday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins are interested in the Los Angeles Rams' quarterback:

"

Speaking of (former) #Eagles QBs: Keep an eye on #Dolphins, #Cowboys, #Redskins, who'll be among teams interested if #Rams deal Nick Foles.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2016"

The Rams are among the teams likely targeting a quarterback in the draft, which would make Foles expendable. However, based on Rapoport's list, they may be disappointed in the offers they receive. 

All three teams mentioned by Rapoport have a starting quarterback locked in place, so it's difficult to imagine them blowing the Rams away with an offer. 

DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles

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There has been relatively little news surrounding DeMarco Murray's future with the Philadelphia Eagles since Rapoport reported in February that the team was willing to listen to offers for their starting running back. 

According to Matt Lombardo of NJ.com, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has the final say on Murray's future with the team. 

If Pederson decides to part with Murray, finding a team to take him shouldn't be problem. 

Murray is 28 years old and under contract through the 2019 season, when he'll be 31. 

However, the guaranteed money of the contract will be almost entirely paid off by the end of the 2016 season.

From 2017 through 2019, Murray is owed $1 million per year from his signing bonus, and an additional $2 million for the 2017 season. 

In essence, the structure of the contract provides the team holding Murray's contract a $5 million buyout after the 2016 season, which pays out over three years. 

With such an easy escape plan, it shouldn't be difficult to find a team willing to take on Murray's contract if they believe he can still be a productive running back in 2016.

Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

AJ Mast/Associated Press

The New York Jets recently placed the franchise tag on defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, but that doesn't mean he'll be back in New York this season. 

Prior to Wilkerson receiving the franchise tag designation, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News speculated that Wilkerson would receive the tag but only to buy the Jets time to attempt to work out a trade. 

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Wilkerson received the nonexclusive tag, which gives him the right to negotiate with other teams. If Wilkerson signed elsewhere, the Jets would receive two first-round picks as compensation. 

That scenario sets the ceiling for a Wilkerson trade, but it's a steep price to pay. In order to move Wilkerson, the Jets will likely have to negotiate a trade with lesser compensation. 

All contract info from Spotrac.