NFL trade deadline and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' optionsBy Sander Philipse Nov 2, 2015
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The NFL trade deadline is coming up tomorrow, and that means the NFL is awash with trade rumors. Not that many of them are going to actually come true: mostly, teams are floating names out there to see if someone's willing to pay a hefty price to salvage their season. A few years ago, Andrew Brandt neatly laid out why so little happens once the deadline rolls around.That said, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a tradition of making some minor and not-so-minor deals at the deadline. Last year, they traded Mark Barron to the St. Louis Rams and Jonathan Casillas to the New England Patriots. In 2012, they moved Aqib Talib to the Patriots. In 2010, they traded for Alex Magee. They haven't exactly added a ton of talent to their team at the trade deadline, but they haven't exactly sit still.So what could Tampa Bay do this year? It's important to keep in mind that Lovie Smith and Jason Licht have to fear for their jobs just a little. They can't afford to hold a fire sale, because a losing streak could easily see them fired at the end of the season. That means they're more likely to use trades to add a little bit of talent and fill some crucial holes on the roster.The Bucs won't trade for an offensive lineman, though. They should be getting Demar Dotson back at some point in the next couple of weeks, and while the line hasn't been perfect it also hasn't been a problem. Besides, they're not about to bench either of their second-round picks -- even if Donovan Smith continues to be inconsistent.The Bucs could, however, trade for players at two positions: defensive end and cornerback. The Bucs defense is a mess right now: they can't cover anyone, and they can't get to the quarterback with any kind of consistency either. Jacquies Smith has been a disappointment since a fast start to the season, George Johnson has been mostly invisible and William Gholston continues to be mostly a run-stopper. Worse, both Smith and Gholston suffered injuries against the Falcons. Help is needed.The same could be said of the cornerback position, where everyone is playing some terrible football. Somehow, that most innovative of concepts the "slant route" (yes, those are sarcastic quotes) is causing the Bucs some massive issues. Fixing that would go a long way towards making this team a lot more competitive.So with that said, let's look at some of the moves the Bucs could make.Players the Buccaneers could trade forCB Pierre Desire, Cleveland BrownsThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately need cornerback help, and the Cleveland Browns are holding a veritable fire sale right now, with reports coming out that they're willing to trade just about any veteran worth anything. Desir's name hasn't leaked, but last year's fourth-round pick would make a good trade target. He's getting very little playing time in Cleveland, behind Joe Haden, Justin Gilbert and Tramon Williams, and he's got the size and speed the Bucs like in their cornerbacks. Given his lack of playing time and fourth-round status, he could be available for fairly cheap.The downside: it can take a long time for cornerbacks to adjust to Lovie Smith's defense. Some of the Bucs' cornerbacks still don't seem to get it, and Desir's not getting on the field in Cleveland doubtless has something to do with the quality of his play, too.LB/DE Barkevious Mingo, Cleveland BrownsSpeaking of the Browns, they also have two pass rushers for sale: Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo, according to Mary Kay Cabot. The Bucs need edge rushers, and Mingo is probably the best fit given that Kruger's old and has only played linebacker in his NFL career.Since being picked sixth overall in 2013, Mingo has just seven sacks but did flash the explosiveness he displayed in college. He just hasn't been able to translate that into production, and he's barely getting on the field this year.A move to the Bucs would also mean shifting back to defensive end, putting his hand in the dirt, and just going after the passer. Given that that's what he did best in college, the Bucs could be a pretty good fit for him -- even if he is undersized for a defensive end. Given his lack of production and decreasing playing time, he shouldn't be too expensive.DE Willie Young, Chicago BearsWillie Young continues to not get on the field in Chicago, with just seven snaps this week. He's 30 years old, but he's an explosive pass rusher who's miscast in the Bears' 3-4 defense. Move him to defensive end and he should have some productive snaps in him, even if only as a pass-rush specialist. He had ten sacks in that role last year, and the Bucs could really use an explosive pass rusher. Why hasn't this trade been made yet?Players the Buccaneers might tradeQB Mike GlennonThis isn't likely to happen, but there are some teams that could view Mike Glennon as a temporary solution, or even future starting quarterback. He's under contract through 2016 and he's obviously not displacing Jameis Winston, while the Bucs picked up Glennon's replacement off waivers earlier this year in Ryan Griffin. The Bucs are going to trade Glennon at some point, and it's most likely to be next offseason, but it's not entirely inconceivable that some time blows them out of the water with an offer before the trade deadline.Not inconceivable, but not likely either. Any team that does so would have to wait while Glennon learns the new system, and by the time that's done and he can start actually paying some football the season will be almost over. He's more likely to stick around in Tampa and be traded to a team that wants to give him an offseason to learn the system next April.WR Vincent JacksonJackson's still a capable receiver, and arguably even an explosive one -- or at least a reliable veteran who can help out the Bucs in a variety of ways. But he also only has 21 catches for 319 yards, almost half of which came in just one game against the Carolina Panthers. At nearly $10 million both this season and the next, Jackson isn't really living up to his pay. If the Bucs plan to save money by cutting him next year, which is entirely plausible, they may decide that getting something for him in trade this season is preferable.Of course, that would also mean a hefty blow to any playoff aspirations the Bucs have left -- and it's unlikely Jason Licht and Lovie Smith are willing to risk their jobs just to add a draft pick for a regime they may not even be a part of.C Evan SmithEvan Smith was benched for the second straight game, and this time he was fully healthy. At $4 million this year and $2.5 million in 2016, he's a likely cap casualty in the offseason and the Bucs may just decide to get what they can for him in trade -- either now, or once the offseason rolls around. That said, he is a versatile backup who can snap the ball, and those always have some value even as a backup.linkTrades we'd like to see happen at deadlineBy Around the NFL staff NFL.comPublished: Nov. 2, 2015 at 07:00 p.m.
The NFL trade deadline is just a day away. Could we see any major names dealt? The Around The NFL crew is here to give you six trades we'd like to see happen.Jay Cutler to the Texans Texans general manager Rick Smith has survived nine seasons with two playoff victories. This year is spiraling out of control, yet Houston is only one game out of first in the AFC South. So it's time for a panicked, but ultimately sensible trade! The Bears would have loved to get rid of Jay Cutler's contract in the offseason, but they found no takers.Cutler is proving once again he's a solid mid-level starter, which has plenty of value to a team like the Texans that should be willing to take the short-term plunge. Of Cutler's $16 million salary, $10 million is guaranteed next year, but is that really so bad for a team that has no present at the position (Brian Hoyer) or future? Having Cutler for the next season and a half should not prevent the Texans from doing everything possible to draft and develop a young quarterback, but Cutler would give them a far better option to throw to DeAndre Hopkins in the meantime. What's wrong with upgrading from league-worst to average? It's hard to imagine the Bears would require much more than a mid-to-late round pick.--Gregg RosenthalBears trade Matt Forte to Giants The Bears neglected to grant Forte's wishes for an extension last offseason, which means he's playing out his contract year. Turning 30 years old in December, he's an unlikely candidate for a top-dollar contract next offseason with the organization's new regime in rebuilding mode. It makes sense for the Bears to trade him to the Giants for a third-round pick.A step slower this season, Rashad Jennings has combined with Andre Williams to average an ineffective 3.35 yards per rush as the Giants' 1-2 punch. Jennings was even benched for the inimitable Orleans Darkwa for long stretches of last week's game. The Cowboys' four-game losing streak has left the NFC East wide open, but the Giants need a playmaking back like Forte to help extend their division lead before Tony Romo returns in Week 11. If this is Tom Coughlin's swan song, the Giants should make every effort to send him out on top.-- Chris WesselingCalvin Johnson to PanthersMegatron deserves a chance to live his golden football years on a young, defense-first football team that has a dynamic mobile quarterback with a cannon for an arm (which, Matt Stafford mostly does, but the team is 1-6). Let's all sign the Free Megatron petition and ensure that we all get one more year of fantasy riches and diving catches.-- Conor OrrJoe Haden and Alex Mack to JaguarsIn exchange for Jacksonville's first-round pick. Cleveland can't afford to let talent walk out the door, but it's time to make a stand for the top overall selection. Mack is likely to leave the Browns after this season anyway and showed enough interest in Jacksonville to sign an offer sheet with the Jaguars two seasons ago. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, this possibility is not too far from the truth. Rapoport reported on Sunday that the Browns have already engaged in trade discussions for Mack and Joe Thomas. Haden is a genuine talent at cornerback, but the Browns don't have much else to offer. With two first-rounders, the Browns can throw in additional picks to get into the No. 1 spot and take Cal's Jared Goff. The Jags get better on both sides of the ball while the Browns nab their franchise arm: Everybody wins.-- Marc SesslerVernon Davis to BroncosHard truth time: The Broncos are 6-0, but they have virtually no chance of advancing to the Super Bowl in their current state. The problems on offense -- specifically related to the decline of Peyton Manning -- has Denver speeding toward a 17-6 loss in the divisional playoffs. We don't believe benching Manning is the answer, so how about adding another weapon to the mix? Enter Vernon Davis, a one-time star in San Francisco who's still moving well and could use a change of scenery -- Davis hinted on Sunday that a trade out of the Bay is "a possibility". Manning loves throwing to his tight ends, and Julius Thomas has been missed. A healthy and motivated Davis could fill the void and perhaps shake Denver's O out of its coma before it's too late.-- Dan HanzusUPDATE: The Broncos acquired Davis in a trade with the 49ers on Monday. Dan Hanzus is a savant. Doug Martin to PanthersFinally healthy, Martin flashes playmaking in both the run and pass attack weekly and has been a broken-ankle maven this season behind a mediocre offensive line. The Dougernaut's brand of power and elusiveness fits right into the Panthers' offense. Yes, Jonathan Stewart has busted out in recent weeks, but hasn't played 16 games since 2011, so we could assume he'll get dinged-up at some point. With respect to Bowling Ball Tolbert, Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne, Cam Newton needs a workhorse back to make the offense go. The Panthers' yogurt-peddling quarterback has played at an MVP-level, but snagging Martin for the rest of the season -- on the cheap -- will ensure the Panthers have a solid backup plan if Stewart goes down, provide the 1-2 punch they've missed this year and keep J-Stew fresh for the playoffs.After the Bucs declined Martin's fifth-year option this offseason, the back will hit the open market in 2016 -- his fantastic play now making that decision look dunderheaded. After Sunday's epic collapse, it's clear the Bucs are going nowhere in 2015. General manager Jason Licht needs to play both sides of the Martin card: flip two months of the tailback to a playoff contender for a mid-round pick, then try and re-sign him after the season.-- Kevin Patra
