The NFL trade deadline is coming up and players like Jared Cook, Vernon Davis and Matt Forte could be potential targets for teams. CBS Sports reports that the tight ends have been getting some interest and if they are traded, there are teams with needs like the Arizona Cardinals, NY Jets, Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders that could look at making a deal.
Jason La Canfora at CBS Sports reports that both Davis and Cook have been getting interest from teams around the league and the tight end market is "heating up" heading into the deadline. La Canfora writes that teams have been calling about both players and that the 49ers and Rams are "open" to the "possibility" of making trades at the deadline. The Rams and Niners are both under .500 heading into Week 7 and if the teams continue to struggle, deals could be more likely for those players.
Davis is in the last year of his contract and that makes him a target at the deadline, while Cook has two years left on his deal, but no guaranteed money and that could make him more appealing. Pro Football Talk reports that the Rams have made calls about Cook and have not just been receiving interest and he could be dealt by the deadline, which is November 3. Cook signed a five-year, $35.1 million deal with the Rams as a free agent and while he has been solid during his time in St. Louis, he has not lived up to that contract overall. La Canfora has also reported that the Bears are "willing" to trade Forte, but only for a high price.
Davis previously signed a six-year, $42.7 million contract and over the past couple years his production has been dropping. Davis had 13 touchdowns in 2013 on 52 catches, but last season he had just 26 receptions in 14 games and this season he has just eight catches in four games. Davis has the physical tools to be a dominant tight end and while he put up strong numbers in the past, it looks like his time in San Francisco is coming to an end, whether it be through a trade or not getting signed back in free agency.
Cook has just 15 catches this season in five games and he has put up solid numbers over the previous two years with over 100 catches combined, but the Rams appear ready to move on. La Canfora writes that while Cook has $7 million coming to him in each of the next two seasons, the team likes the potential of Lance Kendricks more and another team could be willing to take Cook because he has not guaranteed money left. The team that trades for Cook could conceivably "part with him in the offseason without cap or cash ramifications" and that could give the Rams a chance to make a move.
Some teams that could be interested in the players include the Cardinals, Jets, Raiders, Colts and Packers. The Cardinals signed Jermaine Gresham and he has not done much this season along with Darren Fells and Troy Niklas, while the Jets have Jeff Cumberland and Kellen Davis on the roster after putting Jace Amaro in IR. Both of those teams have eyes on the playoffs and could make moves. Dwayne Allen has been injury prone for the Colts and they could consider an upgrade, while the Raiders have not gotten much production from Mychal Rivera or Clive Walford this season. The Packers have Andrew Quarless on IR, but the team is not usually one to make deadline deals.
Check here for more on the interest in Jared Cook and Vernon Davis.
