NFL Teams Making “Exploratory” Calls About Trades Ahead Of The Deadline

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, NFL teams have already begun making “exploratory” calls regarding trade options ahead of this year’s trade deadline.

Schefter mentions that with a new breed of young general managers in NFL, it’s possible we could see a few more trades than usual at this year’s deadline.

A few weeks ago, Jason Cole of B/R reported that there could “significant trade action” at this year’s deadline on November 1.

According to Cole, the team to watch this year will be the Browns, who could have the two best players on the trading block in LT Joe Thomas and CN Joe Haden. Cole mentions that both of these players have reasonable contracts to be assumed as part of a trade.

Another team Cole says that is being monitored by teams around the league is the 49ers.

Thomas continues to be a hot named mentioned in trade rumors.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports previously reported that contending teams are assessing what it could take to trade for Thomas and he listed the Seahawks, Cardinals and Panthers as a few teams worth keeping an eye on in regards to Thomas.

It’s worth mentioning that Thomas is owed roughly $4 million for the remainder of the 2016 season, so this is an important consideration for any potential trade.

Thomas, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Browns back in 2007. He’s currently in the sixth year of his eight-year, $92 million contract that included $44 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $8.3 million for the 2016 season.

This season, Thomas has appeared in four games for the Browns and was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 7 offensive tackle out of 75 qualifying players.

Haden, 27, is a former first-round pick of the Browns back in 2010. He’s currently in the third year of his six-year, $74.678 million contract that includes $45 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $10.1 million for the 2016 season.

This year, Haden has appeared in three games for the Browns and has recorded 12 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass defenses for the Browns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 cornerback out of 111 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding potential trades as the news is available.