49ers HC Chip Kelly Regarding Reports That LT Joe Staley is Available For Trade: “That’s News To Me”

Update:

49ers HC Chip Kelly was asked about the reports that veteran LT Joe Staley is available for trade.

“That’s news to me,” Kelly said, per Cam Inman. “Nobody’s had any discussions with me about Joe being traded. We need Joe here.”

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Jason Cole of B/R reports confirms that the 49ers are willing to trade LT Joe Staley and adds that they’re willing to trade almost any veteran.

• Cole mentions that the $23 million owed to Staley is actually a low price and has made him an intriguing trade target for NFL teams to consider.

Unfortunately, Cole doesn’t list anyone other than Staley as players who could be dealt ahead of this year’s trade deadline.

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Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, reports that 49ers LT Joe Staley is available for trade as well.

This comes after the news that the Browns are looking for a second-round pick in return for LT Joe Thomas.

Florio says that the Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, Seahawks and possibly the Patriots all have some degree of interest in Staley and Thomas.

While Cleveland is looking for a second-rounder, Florio’s source says that San Francisco would like a first-round pick for Staley, which would likely come in the latter portion of the round, given that he would be dealt to a contender.

Staley, 32, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2007. He’s currently in the third year of his six-year, $52.45 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $5.4 million for the 2016 season.

This year, Staley has appeared in seven games for the 49ers. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 14 out of 75 qualifying players.