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.
Cowboys Audition Kadeem Edwards
- 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.
Latest On Ezekiel Elliott Investigation
Ezekiel Elliott‘s legal advisor Frank Salzano today issued a press release stating his view that Elliott will eventually be cleared of domestic violence charges, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Reports yesterday indicated that Elliott’s ex-girlfriend/accuser is cooperating with the NFL’s investigation.
[RELATED: Barry Church, Morris Claiborne To Miss Time]
“For the past several days the media has elected to focus on allegations of domestic violence involving Mr. Elliott despite the Columbus, Ohio Prosecutor’s Office decision not to charge Mr. Elliott nearly two months ago,” the statement reads in part. “My office provided a mountain of exculpatory evidence demonstrating Mr. Elliott’s innocence and directly contradicting all of the false allegations contained in the Accuser’s two police reports…”
The statement goes on to call on the NFL to close its investigation of Elliott given that it has already interviewed him. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also seemingly wants the matter to end, or at least get some clarification as to its status, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports that Jones attempted to speak with NFL investigator Lisa Friel during recent league meetings. Friel, however, did not engage with Jones.
Under the league’s old personal conduct policy, Elliott might have been in the clear after the Columbus DA passed on charges. Now, in the post-Ray Rice era, the NFL is taking DV allegations much more seriously. It’s also fair to say that the league is being extra cautious in the wake of the Josh Brown controversy which has dominated headlines for weeks.
Barry Church, Morris Claiborne To Miss Time
The Cowboys lost two important pieces of their secondary on Sunday, as both safety Barry Church and cornerback Morris Claiborne suffered injuries. Church fractured his arm and will miss three-to-five weeks, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link), while Claiborne may require surgery for a sports hernia and could be out indefinitely, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: Darren McFadden On Trade Block]
Church, who likely won’t undergo an operation, has played extremely well this season, grading as the league’s No. 17 safety, according to Pro Football Focus. In seven starts, Church has managed 34 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble. The 28-year-old Church’s contract is up at season’s end, so the injury puts a damper on his free agent prospects. J.J. Wilcox is likely to replace Church in the starting lineup, but Dallas also has Jeff Heath, Kavon Frazier, and Jameill Showers available at safety.
Claiborne, meanwhile has transformed from a former draft bust to a legitimate top corner in his fifth NFL season, ranking as PFF’s eighth-best corner on the year. Re-signed to a one-year deal worth only $3MM, Claiborne has started all seven games and posted one interception. Like Church, Claiborne is also head for unrestricted free agency after the season. For the time being, he’ll be replaced by Orlando Scandrick, who just returned to game action on Sunday. The Cowboys’ only other corner is Anthony Brown, so they could potentially make a move for another defensive back soon.
Latest On NFL’s Ezekiel Elliott Investigation
Ezekiel Elliott’s ex-girlfriend is cooperating with the league’s investigation into the domestic abuse allegations against the player, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. If the league finds that there is merit to the accusations, her testimony could have a major impact on the Cowboys tailback. 
The aforementioned woman has claimed that five separate incidents of domestic violence transpired. Elliott, meanwhile, has maintained his innocence. In September, the Columbus, Ohio district attorney’s office opted not to pursue charges against the Dallas rookie.
Heading into tonight’s game, Elliott has rushed for 703 yards and five touchdowns off of 137 carries. He also has eleven catches for 98 yards. It would certainly sting if the Cowboys were to lose Elliott for any period of time this season.
Under the league’s old personal conduct policy, Elliott might have been in the clear after the Columbus DA passed on charges. Now, in the post-Ray Rice era, the league is taking DV allegations much more seriously. It’s also fair to say that the league is being extra cautious in the wake of the Josh Brown controversy which has dominated headlines for weeks.
Cowboys RB Darren McFadden On Trade Block
The Cowboys are willing to trade running back Darren McFadden, but the price tag is said to be “significant,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. McFadden hasn’t suited up yet this season, as he’s been recovering from an offseason injury while on the non-football injury list.
[RELATED: NFL Interviews Ezekiel Elliott]
Dallas received calls on McFadden before the season even began, as rival clubs likely assumed that the veteran back wasn’t part of the picture with the Cowboys after Dallas drafted Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall and signed free agent Alfred Morris. However, a subsequent report indicated that the Cowboys didn’t have any interest in dealing McFadden, and would keep him on the roster as something of an insurance policy.
With Elliott looking like the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, there likely won’t be a role available for McFadden even if he can return to health. A rival club, then, could acquire a somewhat underpriced asset, given that McFadden rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season and will cost only the prorated portion of a $1.25MM base salary. However, his health has always been a question mark, and given that he’s injured at the moment, the risk in adding McFadden is that much greater.
Cowboys Explored Many QB Possibilities Before Landing On Dak Prescott
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter details how the Cowboys ultimately landed rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, despite the fact that the team explored every other possibility at the position. The team brought in a whopping seven rookie quarterbacks for workouts (including Prescott, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch, Christian Hackenberg, Jacoby Brissett, and Connor Cook), and the team also took a look at veterans Nick Foles and Josh McCown.
[SOURCE LINK]
Cowboys Had Offseason Interest In Chase Daniel
- The Cowboys had interest in Chase Daniel as a backup quarterback during the offseason, Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram tweets. However, that was before the Eagles made Daniel the league’s highest-paid reserve QB.
Dak Prescott To Start Through At Least Week 9
Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott will remain the Cowboys’ starter through at least the club’s Week 9 contest against the Browns, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). After that game, Dallas will likely face a decision between Prescott and veteran Tony Romo.
[RELATED: Tony Romo Returns To Practice]
The Cowboys, of course, have leapt out to a 5-1 record and lead the NFC East in no small part thanks to Prescott’s contributions. Through six games, the fourth-round pick has completed 68.7% of his passes for seven touchdowns and one interception, adding another three scores on the ground. Prescott has been so impressive that Cowboys COO Stephen Jones hedged in August when asked if Romo would immediately reclaim his starting job.
“I can’t imagine a scenario where Tony’s not our quarterback when he’s ready,” Jones said. “But things happen. You know that. You know what happened to [Drew] Bledsoe and [Tom] Brady. I’m sure Tony’s aware of that. But the reality is, Tony’s going to come back for us and play great, we believe.”
Romo, 36, returned to practice today but was listed as “limited” as he recovers from a preseason back injury.
NFL Interviews Ezekiel Elliott
The NFL recently interviewed Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott about the domestic violence allegations raised against him earlier this year, a source tells USA Today’s Tom Pelissero. Elliott did not face criminal charges for any of the five alleged incidents raised by his ex-girlfriend, but the league is still investigating what happened. 
Of course, the NFL is under extra scrutiny with regards to domestic violence cases in the wake of the Josh Brown issue. If the league finds that the allegations against Elliott hold some water, it’s not difficult to imagine him being hit with a suspension.
In addition to the DV allegations, the Cowboys were reportedly disappointed by Elliott’s off-the-field behavior in the summer. Elliott was spotted at a Seattle marijuana shop in August and in texts with his aforementioned ex, he seemed to imply that he was working to circumvent a drug test.
Since the start of the season, Elliott has been doing nothing but making Cowboys officials smile. Through six games, the Ohio State product has 703 yards off of 137 carries with five touchdowns. That averages out to a 5.1 yards per carry average and 117.2 yards per contest. Elliott also has 11 catches for 98 yards.