NFL Trade Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on Alshon Jeffery, Joe Thomas and More

The NFL trade deadline is upon us, though there's already been a flurry of moves that figure to have a significant impact on the season's second half. 

The New England Patriots stunned the football world by trading star linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns on Monday, per the Browns' official Twitter account. 

While blockbuster deals of that magnitude are rare for the NFL during a season, there are many marquee names whose names continue to be mentioned in trade rumors and could be on the move before 4 p.m.

Eagles Unlikely to Land Jeffery

While the Philadelphia Eagles have been in the market for a wide receiver, particularly one who can stretch the field after Carson Wentz averaged a meager 4.7 yards per attempt in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, don't count on Alshon Jeffery being their savior. 

During an appearance on Up to the Minute Live (via NFL.com's Chris Wesseling), NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Eagles and Chicago Bears have not had any trade discussions about Jeffery. 

Rapoport noted it is "essentially unprecedented" for a player under the franchise tag to be traded during the season because the acquiring team can't try to re-sign the player until free agency begins. 

Jeffery would step into Philadelphia and instantly be the best receiver on the roster. Even with an unstable quarterback situation in Chicago, the 26-year-old has 36 receptions and is averaging a career-high 16.2 yards per reception. 

By comparison, no wide receiver on the Eagles roster is averaging more than 11.6 yards per reception. Tight end Brent Celek is averaging 15.8 yards per catch, but he has just five receptions in seven games. 

With Jeffery appearing to be off the table, the Eagles could still engage the San Francisco 49ers in discussions for Torrey Smith. 

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that talks of Smith being dealt to the Eagles are not dead. 

That's not the most optimistic outlook for a possible move but if the Eagles believe their window of contention is firmly open, they can figure out a way to add a receiver because they desperately need to figure out something at the position. 

Smith is still a decent big-play threat, averaging 15.3 yards per reception in 2016 with Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick as his quarterbacks. The Eagles play a version of the West Coast offense under head coach Doug Pederson that is at its best with a speed threat on the outside. 

About the only negative for the Eagles acquiring Smith, if that's the route they take, is his contract. His cap number for each of the next three seasons is $9.6 million, per OverTheCap.com. 

That's a substantial amount of money to pay a player just as a free agent, let alone if a team has to trade an asset such as a draft pick to acquire the player. 

Smith is the more logical trade candidate for the Eagles to target, but they might be forced to stand pat due to the financials involved. 

Joe Thomas Market Dwindling

The Browns have already made one huge move prior to the deadline, but with a roster largely in need of a complete overhaul, there's still work for executive director of football operations Sashi Brown. 

Offensive tackle Joe Thomas is the big fish in the pond waiting to be caught, though his list of potential suitors can apparently be counted on one finger.

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the New York Giants are the only team that fits the criteria needed to make a deal for Thomas. 

"The Giants are the only team still on the radar screen," Florio wrote. "But even that is a long shot because the Giants don’t seem to be inclined to give the Browns the kind of offer they’d want."

Florio also notes other teams do have interest in Thomas, but clubs like the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks don't have enough cap space to add him. 

In a report from Oct. 28, Florio noted the Browns are seeking a second-round draft pick for Thomas. 

While the Browns seemingly find new ways to implode every year, Thomas has been the one rock-solid constant on the team since 2007. The 31-year-old has never missed a start in his career, making nine Pro Bowls and being named to the All-Pro First Team six times. 

Given where the Browns are at right now, it doesn't make sense to have an offensive tackle who is almost 32 years old and, per Spotrac, has a $10 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons. 

But Thomas' high salary and advanced age make him a difficult trade option during the season. Cleveland's best bet will be to seek a deal for him in the offseason, when other NFL teams have more financial flexibility. 

Cameron Wake on Cowboys' Radar

The Dallas Cowboys have been looking for pass-rushing help for two years with no substantial results. 

The trade market doesn't feature a robust number of options to choose from, but Cameron Wake could be a surprise player on the market. 

Per SiriusXM NFL Radio, the Cowboys are showing interest in Wake:

It's not a surprise the Miami Dolphins would put Wake on the market. He has only started two of the seven games in which he's appeared this season. 

After the Dolphins' first two games, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald said something appeared to be lost in translation when head coach Adam Gase discussed how he wanted to use Wake coming off an Achilles injury that prematurely ended his 2015 season:

"

Somewhere from conception to execution of this plan, the analytics and sports science department had to have gotten involved. And now the plan to limit Wake gets a number.

That’s where the 25, 30, 35, 45 snap numbers come from.

(By the way, which one is it, anyway?)

And then someone decides because Wake is on a snap count limited to a number some computer program plucked from its chip-implanted innards, he must be saved for pass-rush snaps almost exclusively.

"

Wake does need some limitations because at 34 years old, his body will start breaking down easier, but he's looked much better over the last two weeks and had 1.5 sacks in the Dolphins' 28-25 win over Buffalo in Week 7. 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not afraid to take big swings, especially now with his team off to a 6-1 start. 

The Dolphins have won back-to-back games and sit at 3-4, so they may want to stand pat in an effort to make a run at a playoff spot. 

But it's never a bad thing to have the Cowboys interested in making a deal for one of your players because Jones will do anything he can if he believes it will make his team better for a Super Bowl run right away.