Cowboys Interested In Richardson, Wake?
Could the Cowboys reach into the AFC East to bolster their defensive line? Dallas has shown interest in Dolphins defensive end/linebacker Cameron Wake, according to sources who spoke with SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter). Meanwhile, the Jets have reached out to the Cowboys to gauge their interest in Sheldon Richardson, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. 
As outlined in our 2016 NFL Trade Deadline Primer, the Jets have fielded calls of trade interest in Richardson. However, their asking price might be too high, especially considering Richardson’s behavioral issues in recent years. Interestingly, Archer’s report indicates that it is the Jets who initiated contact with the Cowboys, which could be a sign that they are warming up to the idea of trading the defensive end. Richardson would be a huge acquisition for Dallas, but they would also have to weigh their willingness to give him a long-term deal beyond 2017.
Wake has spent his entire NFL career with the Dolphins and, therefore, has never been to the playoffs. Still, he says that he won’t request a trade. At 3-4, it seems possible that Miami could move the 34-year-old, whether he wants to leave or not. The seven-year veteran made only seven appearances last season due to a torn ACL. So far this year, he has eight tackles and three sacks.
Bills Place Aaron Williams On IR
The Bills announced that they have placed safety Aaron Williams on injured reserve. The move will make room for the addition of Percy Harvin, who came out of retirement to sign with Buffalo earlier today. 
[RELATED: Percy Harvin Comes Out Of Retirement, Signs With Bills]
Williams was on the receiving end of a vicious tackle Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry recently, leaving him with a neck injury. According to Williams’ father, the defensive back may consider retirement in the offseason since this is his second neck injury in the last two seasons.
Williams, 26, has been a starter for the majority of his career in Buffalo, posting seven interceptions and 183 tackles through 59 games. Having agreed to an extension in 2014, Williams is signed through the 2018 campaign, with cap hits north of $6MM in each of the next two seasons. Buffalo can use options like Robert Blanton, Duke Williams, and Jonathan Meeks to fill in at safety, so they won’t necessarily have to add a defensive back this week.
2016 NFL Trade Deadline Primer
The 2016 NFL trade deadline is just hours away. This is the last chance of the season for contending teams to deal for a key piece for the playoff push and final opportunity for rebuilding clubs to make a future-minded deal. This year, there are a number of players who have been mentioned in trade rumors that could be changing jerseys between now and the 4pm ET/3pm CT deadline.
Naturally, cap room will be as much of a factor for teams as their positional needs. As Albert Breer of The MMQB (Twitter links) outlines, some teams have a great deal of space to work with while others have very little. The Browns, 49ers, Jaguars, and Titans all have enough cap space to acquire just about any contract. The Chargers, Rams, and Vikings, meanwhile, all have less than $1MM of room to work with.
Historically, the NFL trade deadline hasn’t brought a ton of action, but yesterday we saw a surprise blockbuster go down when the Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns. We just might be in store for more major news today.
Here’s a rundown of the big names that have been mentioned in trade rumors over the past couple of weeks:
Browns OT Joe Thomas: Thomas, a lifelong member of the Browns, has made it clear that he does not want to be traded. Coach Hue Jackson flatly said that the tackle would not be dealt between now and the deadline. Still, rival GMs aren’t so sure that top exec Sashi Brown won’t pull the trigger on a deal anyway. 
The Browns remain winless and it only makes sense that the team would explore dealing Thomas for draft considerations. However, the Browns already have quite a stockpile and they even drew from that surplus yesterday to acquire linebacker Jamie Collins from the Patriots. All month long, there has been talk of Cleveland selling off its parts with an eye on 2017 and beyond. Now, one has to wonder if A. they are still inclined to sell and B. they could even look to acquire name players this afternoon.
The Giants have expressed interest in Thomas, but they get the impression that Cleveland is going to hold on to him. The Vikings, Colts, Seahawks, Cardinals, Broncos, and Patriots could also use some help up front, but it’s not clear which of those clubs have reached out. Previous reports have indicated that the Browns were seeking a second-round choice for the veteran, but teams might have to sweeten the pot further if they are truly leaning towards keeping him.
Browns CB Joe Haden: Teams are reportedly scouting Haden in advance of the deadline. Once regarded as one of the league’s best young corners, Haden has been slowed by injuries in recent years. Any team that would take on Haden and his considerable salary wants to know exactly where he stands with his ankle, hamstring, and other assorted maladies.
At the midway point of the season, Pro Football Focus has Haden ranked as the 29th best corner in the NFL. That indicates Haden is an above-average starter, but not an elite player at the position. Haden is in year two of his five-year, $67.5MM extension and a cornerback-needy team like the Dolphins could explore a deal. But, as with Thomas, it’s not clear if the Browns are willing to sell. Haden is under contract through 2019 and won’t turn 28 until April. There’s not much he can do for the Browns in 2016, but he could still be a vital piece going forward.
In related news, the Browns are reportedly open to trading fellow corner Tramon Williams. The Packers are thin at cornerback and a reunion would make a lot of sense.
Browns Discussed Trading Tramon Williams
The Browns have discussed trading cornerback Tramon Williams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Williams, who joined the Browns on a three-year deal prior to the 2015 campaign, is signed through 2017.
There has been plenty of trade buzz around star cornerback Joe Haden, but talk of a Williams deal is brand new. Williams would represent a much lower-cost contract and would require a lot less in the way of compensation. Williams’ deal has a $6.2MM base salary for 2016 with a step down to $5.7MM next season. However, he can be released prior to June 1 with relatively little financial penalty.
Through six games this year (three starts), Williams has 22 total tackles, one fumble recovery, and one interception. Pro Football Focus, meanwhile, ranks him in the bottom 20% of all qualified cornerbacks this year.
Buccaneers Trade CB Johnthan Banks To Lions
The Buccaneers didn’t waive Johnthan Banks after all. After telling the cornerback that he would be dropped from the roster yesterday, the Bucs have instead traded him to the Lions, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). In exchange, Tampa Bay will receive a conditional seventh-round pick for 2018. 
Banks, a second round pick of the Bucs in the 2013 draft, hasn’t done much in the last four years. Already in a limited role under Lovie Smith in 2015, Banks hardly played for head coach Dirk Koetter this season.
Star cornerback Darius Slay was held out of Sunday’s game with an injury and Banks is likely being brought in as a depth signing. There’s no word yet on Slay’s status for this upcoming Sunday against the Vikings.
Johnson Bademosi stepped into the starting lineup over the weekend and he turned in a strong performance even though Detroit was not victorious against the Texans. In that game, Bademosi picked off Brock Osweiler late in the second quarter, stopping the Texans deep down the field.
Chiefs Sign RB Bishop Sankey
The Chiefs have signed running back Bishop Sankey off of the Patriots’ practice squad, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
The signing of Sankey could be a sign that Jamaal Charles‘ knee issues are rather serious. Kansas City is also awaiting word on Spencer Ware as he goes through concussion protocol. And, just a couple of weeks ago, KC shipped Knile Davis to the Packers (he was released yesterday). That left the Chiefs with Charcandrick West as their only healthy running back, necessitating today’s move.
Sankey was once viewed as the Titans’ top running back but he was dropped before the 53-man deadline this year. Sankey, 24, appeared in all 16 games for the Titans as a rookie but amassed only 569 yards off of 152 carries. Last season, Sankey’s role was reduced even further has he had only 47 rushing attempts for 193 yards in 13 games.
The Patriots recently gave a $52,700 raise to Sankey, but that was not enough to keep him from jumping at a 53-man roster opportunity.
Jamie Collins Looking To Top Kuechly’s Salary?
Yesterday, the Patriots shocked the football world when they shipped linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns for a future draft pick. While there has been speculation about Collins’ work ethic and possible friction with Bill Belichick, the deal was also driven by the Pats’ realization that they won’t be able to re-sign him to a team-friendly deal this offseason. The Patriots didn’t formally offer Collins a new deal (despite reports to the contrary), but they floated the idea of an $11MM/year contract, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter). 
After trading for the pending free agent, the Browns are obviously looking to lock Collins up for the long term. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that Collins is looking to eclipse the $12.36MM/year that Luke Kuechly is making on his current deal with the Panthers. Collins’ camp views him as a hybrid player and will push for a deal that would put him in the top four amongst all linebackers in terms of AAV. Collins reportedly told the Patriots that he wanted “Von Miller money” at one point during talks, so it sounds like his demands have come back down to earth a little bit.
Meanwhile, former Pats assistant Mike Lombardi discussed the Collins deal on the latest edition of The Bill Simmons Podcast (audio link). During the interview, Lombardi shed some light on why New England was willing to bail on the talented linebacker in the middle of the season:
“The one thing you have to do, Donnie Walsh said this to me in 1990s, or the late 80s, ‘You’ve got to know what you’re trading before you make a trade.’ And that’s the one caveat that Belichick knows; he knows what he’s trading. He’s trading a guy who is very talented, but very moody, very inconsistent with his effort, and so for him to pay that player that type of money sends a message to the locker room that, look, I tolerate this and I reward this. He’s never doing that. And when Belichick, every message he sends in terms of a contract is a message to the locker room.”
Percy Harvin Unretires, Signs With Bills
How’s this for a surprise? Wide receiver Percy Harvin is coming out of retirement to re-sign with the Bills, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Agent Greg Barnett has also confirmed the news via social media. Harvin’s deal is worth about $1MM over the season’s remaining eight games, including incentives, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). That comes out to about $1.5MM prorated in a 16-game season. 
Harvin joined the Bills on a one-year, $6MM deal in March of 2015, but was unable to stay healthy. Battling through a persistent hip injury, the 28-year-old appeared in just five games, recording 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown. Harvin, who has also been plagued by knee issues in the past, returned five kicks as well. This past offseason, he wrestled with the idea of retirement and flip-flopped a couple of times in the spring. In April, he told the Bills that he was done playing football, but he apparently had a change of heart in recent weeks.
If Harvin can stay healthy, he could provide a major boost for a Bills offense that is currently without star Sammy Watkins. It’s also worth noting that Harvin has not been 0n the field in quite some time and it’s not immediately clear if he is in football shape. If Harvin is ready to go immediately, then he’ll get to make his 2016 debut against the Seahawks on Monday night.
Extra Points: Trades, Falcons, Bills, Bouye, Pats
With the league’s trading deadline less than 24 hours away, Mike Sando of ESPN Insider and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com try to guess where certain players might end up in the coming days. The Seahawks would make a perfect fit for Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, opines Sando, who also suggests the Packers try to acquire Torrey Smith and the Bears attempt to find a taker for Alshon Jeffery. Meanwhile, La Canfora focuses solely on Thomas, laying out the case for clubs such as the Cardinals, Broncos, and Colts to go after the future Hall of Famer.
Let’s take a quick spin around the league on this Halloween night:
- Speaking of the deadline, two head coaches broached the subject today while speaking with reporters. The Falcons‘ Dan Quinn told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that while there are some “behind-the-scenes whispers about stuff” happening over the next day or so, Atlanta is unlikely to make a move. Bills head coach Rex Ryan, meanwhile, said he “doesn’t necessarily see” Buffalo working out a trade before tomorrow, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- Looking ahead to 2017 free agency, Peter King of TheMMQB.com identifies Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye as one underrated player who could potentially score a hefty contract next spring. Bouye, whose role with Houston will grow even larger given that Kevin Johnson is now on IR, grades as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 corner, leading King to speculate that Bouye could be worth $8MM on the open market.
- The Patriots worked out punter Brandon Fields, kicker Matt Wile, long snappers Tyler Ott and John DePalma, and wide receivers Wendall Williams and Bralon Addison, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Giants tried out rookie undrafted free agent linebacker Myke Tavarres , per Caplan (Twitter link). This marks the second time they have worked him out.
- The Cowboys auditioned guard Kadeem Edwards, Caplan tweets. Edwards, who was cut by Jacksonville at the end of the summer, worked out for Kansas City last week.
Buccaneers Waive CB Johnthan Banks
The Buccaneers have waived cornerback Johnthan Banks, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Bucs were reportedly willing to move Banks for a wide receiver before the deadline but it’s safe to assume that they could not find a deal.
Banks was a second round pick of the Bucs in the 2013 draft. Immediately thrust into the starting lineup, Banks has seen his role dwindle over time. This year, he did not start in any of the five games that he appeared in. Last year, he made seven starts out of 14 regular season appearances. Banks at least had some kind of role under Lovie Smith, but he clearly didn’t have a place once Dirk Koetter took over as head coach.
With Banks gone, the Bucs still have Jude Adjei-Barimah, Alterraun Verner, and Josh Robinson to support starters Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves.