NFL trade deadline usually passes quietly, but teams making noise this season
The NFL Draft is spread over three days now, although much of the drama -- like college phenoms Aaron Rodgers, Randy Moss and Johnny Manziel repeatedly passed over --- typically happens in the first round.
Another seemingly key date on the NFL calendar, however, comes and goes without much fanfare each year: the leagues trade deadline. This season’s cutoff is Tuesday at 4 pm ET.
Could this be the year where the moves match the harried moments before the trade deadlines of MLB (July 31 for non-waiver trades), NBA (Feb. 18) and NHL (Feb. 29)?
Some blockbusters --- or at least some more transactions -- could be in the offing:
-- The 2-6 Browns could be major sellers. Cleveland could be open to trading All-Pro offensive linemen Alex Mack and Joe Thomas, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Linebackers Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo are also reportedly on the block.
-- The listless 49ers appear to be open to trading tight end Vernon Davis, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “It’s a possibility,” Davis told The Sacramento Bee. “You know there’s nothing I can do about it.”
-- Rams tight end Jared Cook’s name has also been floated about, even after head coach Jeff Fisher said he had “no interest in trading” Cook just two weeks ago.
A rash of injuries in Week 8 left several teams with holes to fill, so that could spark some deadline dealings. One position that was hit the hardest was running back as Pittsburgh’s Le'Veon Bell, Chicago’s Matt Forte, San Francisco’s Reggie Bush and New Orleans’ Khiry Robinson were forced out.
The Jets are also in the market for a quarterback, and are said to be exploring trades if they can't find someone on the free-agent market.
The league and the NFL Players Association agreed to move the trade deadline back two weeks ahead of the 2012 season, a change that hasn’t quite kick-started in-season trading.
Tennessee was involved in the only two deadline trades a year ago, sending linebacker Akeem Ayers to New England and safety Mark Barron going to St. Louis for draft picks. Those two moves were actually double the deadline deals in 2012 and 2013.
There are several reasons why the NFL isn’t like the other three major sports when it comes to trade deadline dealing: teams are reluctant to part with future draft picks, general managers are wary of players who are available, players may not fit an offensive/defensive system and cap issues.
That’s not to say the NFL deadline has never been without its major moves.
The Cowboys’ 1989 deadline trade of running back Herschel Walker to the Vikings helped make Dallas a contender. Two years prior, Eric Dickerson was dealt by the Rams in a three-team, 10-player trade hat saw the star running back land up with the Colts.