The 2018 NFL trade deadline is approaching, and trade rumors suggest some high-profile names could be on the move by the end of the day Tuesday. Oct. 30 is the cut-off point for the league's contenders to plug holes in their rosters via trades. Running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy are among the notable players who have dominated NFL trade rumors of late, with the Eagles potentially being interested in either. MORE: One trade each team should make before 2018 deadline Last season, impact players like Jay Ajayi and Jimmy Garoppolo were dealt at the midseason deadline, offering upgrades to teams that were thinking about both the short-term future and the big picture. Here's everything you need to know as this year's NFL trade deadline approaches. When is NFL trade deadline 2018? Teams have until Tuesday, Oct. 30 to make a trade, and 4 p.m. ET is the cut-off time to report a deal to the league office. Due to the nature of the process, news of some trades might not reach the public until shortly after the deadline. NFL TRADE DEADLINE: Why NFL typically lacks blockbuster deals Who are the top targets at the NFL trade deadline? Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers: Bell, whose holdout has been the talk of the NFL since before the season began, is the potential crown jewel of the trade market. His value is obvious, as he has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of the last four seasons and has averaged almost 67 receptions per year in that timeframe. Bell's steep contract demands, coupled with the emergence of RB James Conner in Pittsburgh, could put him in a new uniform by the end of the month. LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills: A reunion between the McCoy and the Eagles reportedly is in the cards. If Bell and the Steelers make peace for the rest of the season, McCoy could become the most valuable piece on the market. The six-time Pro Bowler has not started this season well (3.8 yards per carry, zero touchdowns), but he still has enough left in the tank, especially for a team in need. Deone Bucannon, LB, Arizona Cardinals: The probability of the Cardinals making their way into contention this year is slim, and Bucannon seems to be the most likely player to go in the event that they sell. The former safety has yet to record fewer than 81 tackles in a season, and his versatility serves as a plus, especially in a 3-4 defense. Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta Falcons: Coleman has always put up good numbers, both on the ground and in the passing game, despite playing second-fiddle to Devonta Freeman on the Falcons' running back depth chart. With Atlanta off to a 1-4 start, he could depart if the team doesn't find its way back near .500 soon. A free agent at the end of the season, he serves as a good alternative to a contender that misses out on Bell and McCoy. NFL trade rumors and news — "Hoping to find a team that can make better use of his talents," Desean Jackson has requested a trade from the Buccaneers. Jackson has three 100-yard receiving games in 2018, but two of those came in his first couple games of the season. — Reliable defensive lineman Damon Harrison has been traded from the Giants to the Lions. Harrison is the second member of the Giants, following Apple, to be dealt in the past two days. New York seems to be set on rebuilding following its 1-6 start. — Cornerback Eli Apple will get a change of scenery as he is dealt to the New Orleans Saints, who are in need of secondary help. This likely will take New Orleans out of the sweepstakes for Peterson. — Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson has requested a trade from the Cardinals. Peterson, who was drafted by Arizona in 2011, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his seven career seasons. His preferred trade destination is reportedly the Saints. — The Raiders have dealt wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cowboys for a first-round pick. Jon Gruden and the Raiders now have three first-round selections in the 2019 Draft, as they had already acquired one for Khalil Mack from the Bears before the season started. Cooper has 22 catches for 280 yards this season. — A major trade has been completed between the Browns and Jaguars that will send running back Carlos Hyde to Jacksonville in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Hyde will complement the ailing Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon in the Jaguars backfield, while Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb should receive elevated playing time for Cleveland. — Buffalo's WIVB-TV reported Tuesday that the Eagles have called the Bills to gauge their interest in trading LeSean McCoy. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott sidestepped the question of whether, specifically, the Eagles had called about McCoy and whether the running back might be available. — Arizona is “stepping up its efforts” to deal Deone Bucannon, a 26-year-old linebacker/safety, according to a report from CBS Sports. The team reportedly is in the process of realigning and adjusting after its 1-4 start. — The Steelers were reportedly listening to trade offers for Le'Veon Bell earlier in the season and have still not ruled out moving him, according to a report from NBC Sports, which cited an unidentified league source.<doc-sep>Mark Brown/Getty Images The National Football League typically doesn't see the flurry of activity before the trade deadline that other sports leagues do. Deals to occur, and this year, we may see more moves than usual. We're six weeks in and 20 teams sit at .500 or better. This means there could be quite a few teams looking to buy before 4 p.m. ET on October 30. There should be no shortage of sellers either, as teams like the Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants (all 1-5) are already on the verge of being eliminated. This could lead to some big-name players entering the trade market, and they may not all even come from losing teams. Let's take a look at the biggest potential trade options and the latest rumors surrounding them. Amari Cooper Video Play Button Videos you might like The Oakland Raiders laid an egg against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. Wide receiver Amari Cooper exited that game in London with a concussion, and there's a slim chance the Raiders will not have him on the field for them again. That is if Oakland decides to trade him before the deadline. According to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, this is a real possibility. This doesn't come as a surprise, as head coach Jon Gruden has already moved star pass-rusher Khalil Mack this season and there is no shortage of teams in need of receiver help. Teams like the Colts, the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns—or at least should—be interested in kicking the tires on a potential Cooper deal. Gruden, though, doesn't sound like he's actively looking to move the former fourth overall pick. "I don't know," Gruden said, per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I haven't heard that. I'm just sorry to have to deal with a lot of these reports. I just hope Amari is OK." Of course, there's a big difference between trying to trade a player and listening to offers. It certainly feels like Gruden is building the Raiders for the long term and not for the near future. If he gets an offer that would help him achieve that goal—as was the case with the Chicago Bears and Mack—it's hard to believe he wouldn't pull the trigger. Le'Veon Bell The Pittsburgh Steelers don't seem to be actively shopping running back Le'Veon Bell, but they have been listening to offers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Bell, though, has stated that he will return at some point during the Week 7 bye, and that he wants to play for Pittsburgh. "I miss football," Bell said, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "When I do get back, I plan to give it my all. I still do want to go out there and win a Super Bowl with the Steelers." As of Monday morning, though, Bell has yet to report to the team. according to Aditi Kinkhabwala‏ of NFL Network. The Steelers hadn't heard from him or his agent as of Sunday night either, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. This obviously doesn't mean that Bell won't show up this week, but it does suggest he isn't eager to get back onto the practice field for Pittsburgh. This will only fuel speculation that he'd prefer to be traded—and perhaps nudge some interested teams to make a call. It certainly doesn't feel like Pittsburgh is going to give Bell the long-term deal he is looking for, and after watching James Conner compile 221 yards rushing and four touchdowns over the last four weeks, one has to wonder if the Steelers are even worried about getting him back now. If not, it would make sense for them to get what they can for him before the deadline. Rick Scuteri/Associated Press Patrick Peterson Cornerback Patrick Peterson has made seven straight Pro Bowls, but Arizona may not view him as part of the long-term rebuilding process. According to CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora, Paterson could be a potential trade chip. "The Arizona Cardinals could be one of the NFL's most active teams ahead of the trade deadline, with league sources indicating that All-Pro corner Patrick Peterson is among the players the team is willing to move," La Canfora recently wrote. Adding Peterson would make sense for virtually any team in need of a talent upgrade in the secondary. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and the Steelers quickly come to mind. Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, however, doesn't seem like he's eager to part with his star defender. "I don't respond to things that are ludicrous," Wilks said of the possible move after Sunday's game. Expect plenty of teams to look into acquiring him anyway.<doc-sep>When it comes to building a roster in the NFL, every team in the NFL gets roughly the same resources. With every team limited to a 53-man roster, a hard salary cap, and roughly equivalent picks in the draft (when weighted against the team’s ability), the NFL has parity built into every step of the team building process. The biggest difference between a well-built team and a bad team is how the front office uses those resources, and how well their coaching staff puts the players in position to succeed. Whether it is in free agency or the draft, the name of the team-building game is getting value. The teams that use their resources the most wisely tend to have the greatest advantage. The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles have embraced emerging analytics to make their processes, both team-building and game management, much more efficient. Meanwhile the New England Patriots have built a dynasty out of Bill Belichick’s rare philosophy of extreme honesty and flexibility, both in team construction and game-planning. But for all that, there is one avenue that teams are only just beginning to truly explore, and that are trades. Trading resources — be it players, draft picks or prospects, or money — is a common practice in the NBA or Major League Baseball. The NFL, however, is much more old-fashioned and conservative, but as teams have begun using the careful study of a massive amount of data points (aka: analytics) to help inform their decisions and not just setting limits and thresholds. One of the new frontiers in that study of data is using it to find value inefficiencies in trades, and exploiting them. With the NFL trade deadline (Oct. 30th, at 4 p.m.) fast approaching, sources around the league are speculating an unusually active market. Those leagues sources are expecting the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders to be particularly active in dealing players. On the Scouts Honor podcast, long-time NFL scout Dave-te’ Thomas said on the Scouts Honor podcast that Jon Gruden is looking to blow up the Oakland Raiders roster. Thomas said, “He wants to put up Derek Carr, he wants to put up Amari Cooper, he wants to put up Karl Joseph. Who else is left over there, anyway?” The Giants likely wouldn’t have an interest in Carr or Cooper, and Thomas suggested that the Jacksonville Jaguars could be trading partners for Carr and Cooper. He added that they have almost no choice but to release Blake Bortles at the end of the season. He also threw out that a second round pick could be a potential price for Carr. Then there are the Arizona Cardinals, who are also sitting at 1-5, could also be putting some of their best players on the trading block as they retool for Steve Wilks’ vision of the team. “I have the feeling,” Thomas said on the podcast, “that if someone comes along and makes an offer on David Johnson, he’s out the door. Patrick Peterson, he’s another guy that they’re talking about. The two linebackers, Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick, they’re both out on the market right now. They just realize in Arizona that they don’t have a choice, they have to blow up the team and start again.” Thomas mentioned that in light of the culture clashes going on in the Cardinals’ locker room, the team likely regrets letting new Giants’ defensive coordinator James Bettcher leave. Peterson is obviously the biggest name put out as a potential trade piece. The All-Pro cornerback was once one of the most highly paid defenders in the NFL, but his salary over the next two seasons, $11 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020, are a bargain for the caliber of player he is. Where the Giants’ come in But what about the other players? What about the youngsters who could be on a team for a long time and are still on a relatively low-cost contract. Each of them was a former first round draft pick, have proven themselves to be capable players at the NFL level, and would likely cost much less than their original draft slots while teams look to recoup something for a player they will otherwise cut. If those trades materialize, those are the opportunities to exploit inefficiencies and add value to the roster. Safety Karl Joseph is an intriguing name for the Giants. Joseph was drafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 2016 draft, and is a dynamic downhill playmaker of a safety. He has the ability to play in man or zone coverage, and even matched up with Sterling Shepard in man coverage in the slot in college. He would be an intriguing option next to Landon Collins in James Bettcher’s defense. Bucannon and Reddick are also intriguing names for the Giants. Bettcher found a niche role for Bucannon in his defense as the “moneybacker”, using the former safety’s skill set as the weak inside linebacker. Meanwhile, Reddick was drafted specifically for Bettcher’s defense. What truly makes players like Bucannon, Joseph, or Reddick truly intriguing for the Giants is the value they represent. With the teams looking to move in other directions, they don’t present much value for their current teams. But with their age, between 24 and 26 years old, they each could be defensive stalwarts for the next five years. They are also proven NFL players who would likely be both better and more reliably productive than the players the team would select in the draft. There is also another factor to consider: The quarterback position. With the Giants currently holding the number one overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, fans and analysts are focusing on the quarterbacks currently projected to go at the top of the draft. However, Thomas isn’t particularly high on the names being thrown around right now. “If you look at the quarterbacks that are out there right now,” Thomas said, “everybody is talking about the kid from Missouri [Drew Lock], he’s another Blaine Gabbert. Everybody’s talking about Justin Herbert, and it’s insane.<doc-sep>With the Falcons at 1-4 and basically looking at every game on the schedule in the foreseeable future as “must win,” the buzzing around the Falcons beehive wonders if the trade deadline might come into play. Historically, the Falcons are mum around this time of year, even when they’re fielding a clear playoff team that might be a piece away from being perfect. Whether it’s just GM Thomas Dimitroff’s general desire not to trade players in-season or just a routine of not being interested when the moment strikes, it’s been radio silence during the trade season of mid-October to early November traditionally for the Birds. They’ve not had a season like this since 2014, where the wheels are falling off and the train heads nowhere fast, so one wonders in a more trade-happy NFL if the team could want to move anyone before the Oct. 30 deadline approaches. RB Tevin Coleman The first name that pops up would, of course, be RB Tevin Coleman, who has an expiring contract in March and who doesn’t appear to be destined to stick around with Devonta Freeman in the early parts of an extension and Ito Smith looking like a more-than-worthy successor. There seems to be a rash of injuries spreading around the league right now at the running back position, and any playoff team would no doubt love to have Coleman on a rental basis. Though, this one feels unlikely, if only because we still have no idea if the Falcons aren’t secretly wanting to figure out a way to keep Coleman around. Freeman’s health hasn’t been sterling in the time since his extension. That’s not to say it’ll stay that way, but it is something that makes you wonder what happens with the guaranteed money runs out on his extension. Do you really want to let Coleman walk and then have to release Freeman a year or two later because he’s struggled to stay on the field? If Free can’t get healthy, they’re reliant on Ito Smith and Brian Hill to get the job done. Right now, it’d probably take a second or third rounder for Atlanta to even consider trading Coleman. They’re guaranteed at least a fourth in compensation if he walks, and they might want to see how Freeman’s 2018 progresses health-wise before they let him out the door for good. This feels highly unlikely unless a desperate team blows Atlanta away with an offer. DE Vic Beasley This is where things get interesting. It’s no secret that Vic Beasley isn’t having the best 2018, and that’s being said after an underwhelming 2017. We don’t know exactly what’s going on with Beasley right now, but he’s not getting consistent pressures or hits on the quarterbacks and his sack tally isn’t good enough for someone of his potential and past numbers. The Falcons have a huge decision to make on Beasley’s fifth-year option. He’s due to make $12.8 million in 2019, and though I’m a Beasley fan and defender, the team just can’t pay that for what Beasley is doing at the moment. He’s invisible for roughly half the game, and really only gets four or five snaps an outing where he really looks like he’s close to making a play. That’s obviously not good enough, and really not good enough for one of the biggest cap hits on the team. You hope he can figure it out and that he can get back to being the Beasley of old, but there is no doubt a probable playoff team out there (cough Los Angeles, Kansas City, New England, etc. cough) who could use some help off the edge. As my colleague Matt Chambers noted, teams could get a look at what Beasley’s capable of through a half-season and playoffs and see if they want to kick in that fifth-year option. If not, they could release Beasley and he, no doubt, would find a new team to latch onto, being the 2016 sack leader and all and still having sky-high potential. The Falcons could get that cap space back for the future with the deals they have coming up and could maybe get a third or fourth rounder in return. Any Others? A pass-rush needy team could see if a fifth or sixth rounder would be enough to snag DE Brooks Reed, though he’s right now the second-best pass rusher on the roster. DE Derrick Shelby feels more likely, as he’s on an expiring deal and is probably in his last year here. He could help someone in run support for certain. Soon-to-be free agent WR Justin Hardy could help a team that’s lacking at receiver (the Tennessee Titans immediately come to mind, as old Falcons QBs coach Matt LaFleur is their OC now). Though, the team standing pat on trading TE Tony Gonzalez all those years ago to a contender after the 2013 season went haywire makes me wonder if that’s just not a future Dimitroff wants to see. It sends a message to the locker room when you trade a starter or valuable rotational piece mid-season, and not a good one at that. One wonders if Atlanta will just choose to roll with what they’ve got through December (or, heck, maybe January if things really do get weird), even if someone comes calling.<doc-sep>
NFL trade rumors are heating up with the October 30 deadline just a little over two weeks away. Here’s a look at the latest buzz out there. EAGLES EXPECTED TO BE ACTIVE Prior to the Eagles vs. Giants game on Thursday night, NFL insider Jay Glazer said Philadelphia is aggressively looking to add a play-maker to their roster. Jay Glazer on Eagles trade rumors: pic.twitter.com/zzSiheRqtF — Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 11, 2018 Hardly surprising but worth noting since Glazer is very plugged in. He was the one who was saying the Eagles were going to be very aggressive prior to last year’s deadline. Sure enough, Howie Roseman went out and acquired Jay Ajayi from the Dolphins. Now, which players could be available to the Eagles? LESEAN MCCOY It sounds like Shady won’t be coming back to Philly. From NFL insider Ian Rapoport: One key source believes McCoy stays in Buffalo not just for this year, but also for the 2019 season. There was no talk of compensation during the conversation between the Bills and the Eagles this week, and the call was described as more feeling out than anything. But the belief is a trade for McCoy would be expensive, perhaps as much as the Seahawks were asking for Pro Bowler Earl Thomas before his injury. And the Eagles don’t seem ready to pay a second-round pick and more for McCoy, even though they have two of them in the 2019 draft. It doesn’t make sense for the Eagles to pay a premium price to acquire McCoy. The 30-year-old obviously has a great track record of production but there are concerns about age, nagging injuries, and a legal situation here. According to Sportradar (via Bo Wulf), McCoy is the only NFL running back who hasn’t broken a single tackle all year (among qualified players). Further, Mike Garafolo said the Eagles’ call to Buffalo was just “one of many [trade] inquiries” the Eagles made recently. Hardly sounds like there’s serious traction here. AMARI COOPER Glazer is reporting that the Raiders are shopping their 2015 first-round pick (No. 4 overall), wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper, who is only 24 years old, is a player who should draw the Eagles’ interest. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has a good history of production with 225 career receptions for 3,183 yards (14.1 average) and 19 touchdowns. Cooper carries a $7.2 million cap hit this year. His $13.9 million cap hit for 2019 (fifth-year option) doesn’t become guaranteed until the first day of the 2019 league year. In other words, it’s financially feasible for the Eagles to acquire him. I’d guess it’d cost a Day 2 pick to acquire Cooper. But perhaps it might be less since Jon Gruden is willingly jettisoning talent from Oakland’s roster, as seen with the Khalil Mack trade. The Eagles ideally like to run a lot of 11 personnel (three wide receivers). It’s not easy for them to do that right now with Jordan Matthews and Kamar Aiken being the top options behind Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor. But ultimately I don’t think the Eagles go after Cooper unless he’s available at surprisingly inexpressive cost. They can still activate Mike Wallace and/or Mack Hollins off the injured reserve list at some point this year, and I think they will. [UPDATE: As I was writing this, Cooper suffered a rib injury and had to leave the Raiders game early.] KARL JOSEPH Glazer is also reporting the Raiders are heavily shopping Joseph — even more so than Cooper. Oakland’s 2016 first-round pick (No. 14 overall) has fallen out of favor with the Gruden regime. Joseph seems like a good buy-low candidate. He’s only 25 years old. And we know West Virginia players have been on the Eagles’ radar in past years (Wendell Smallwood, Rasul Douglas, Shelton Gibson). Ideally, Joseph could come in and start next to Malcolm Jenkins so Avonte Maddox can shift down to play the slot with Sidney Jones out. But it’s hard to say how much instant impact Joseph could make. Safety is a position where understanding the scheme and having continuity/communication with the other defensive backs is important. Joseph would be more viable as a long-term flyer than an instant solution and the price should reflect as much.