Trade Deadline Looms: Adding a Tight End (Eifert, Howard?), No-Go on Gordon, Available Bridge QBs, More

The NFL’s trade deadline is tomorrow. And while we have already seen some movement, we are on the brink of even more before 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

Let’s get to some rumors!

JJ Stankevitz (NBC Sports Chicago) would be surprised if the Bears made a splash move as a buyer or seller on the trade market. Head Coach Matt Nagy said he doesn’t expect GM Ryan Pace to make a move, but also noted his focus is on game-planning for the Eagles. Maybe Pace gets something done, but it’s not like he has a ton of draft picks (the Bears don’t have selections in Rounds 1, 3, or 4) and has limited long-term cap room ($17,049,640 this year, but it dwindles after that). Stankevitz also throws cold water on dreams of the Bears dealing for a quarterback, whether it is an option who can be helpful immediately (such as Marcus Mariota or Case Keenum) or one who could be a long-term play (sup, Josh Rosen?). The Bears standing pat would be disappointing, but could be viewed as some sort of vote of confidence from the front office. Though at 3-4, I’m not sure how that message would be received.

(Michael: Had the Bears won yesterday, I *might* be more interested in a move, but at this point … it doesn’t seem worth it – certainly not if the move is primarily for *this* season).

Alright, so maybe the Bears won’t be making splash over. If they did, Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) has some ideas of what the Bears could do. Benjamin has eyes on a deal to acquire tight end Tyler Eifert from the Bengals for a 2020 fifth-round pick and a conditional sixth-rounder in 2021. Eifert was a stand-out prospect at Notre Dame once upon a time and a pretty good receiving tight end for the Bengals throughout his career, but injuries have limited him. We know how important the tight end is to Matt Nagy’s offense, and we have seen the team suit up five tight ends this season. Finding one who can get the job done would be neat.

Benjamin also links the Bears and Chargers, sending running back Melvin Gordon to Chicago in exchange for wide receiver Javon Wims and a conditional second-round pick in 2021. Gordon has been on our radar before, but has never been someone whose acquisition was deemed realistic. Gordon’s contract status and desire to get paid big bucks doesn’t vibe with the Bears’ current salary cap structure. And after showing they can run it with David Montgomery (ironically enough, against Gordon’s Chargers), it’s difficult to imagine the Bears making this type of move.

Would the Bears be interested in selling? Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the Cowboys could be in the market for some safety help. An aggressive Bears front office could dangle free-agent-to-be Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or even Deon Bush. Both players have varying trade values, with Clinton-Dix netting more of a return than Bush. But it is worth noting and keeping an eye on, especially since the Cowboys and the Bears square off later in the year.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport talks about the Raiders being in the hunt for a wide receiver:

From @gmfb: The trade deadline is two days away, and we offer some names to watch — #Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake, #Jets WR Robby Anderson, and #Broncos CB Chris Harris. pic.twitter.com/ZZFQRwm75O

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 28, 2019

Perhaps the Bears have a fit for the Raiders? Taylor Gabriel has a couple of years left on his contract and could probably net the Bears some much-needed draft capital. Trading with Raiders has obvious layers of complication, though they might be happy to see the Bears sell, but Bears don’t exactly want to see them win a ton more. I say make ’em pay through the nose.

As Brett discussed earlier, it doesn’t sound like the Jaguars will trade injured quarterback Nick Foles. At 4-4, the Jaguars still have playoff aspirations and could conceivably hold onto Foles as a backup plan should the clock strike midnight on Gardner Minshew’s Cinderella season. Or perhaps the Jaguars want to play hardball on the trade market because they are holding out hope that they can extract that much more from a potential buyer.

In other quarterbacking news, C.J. Beathard’s name apparently bears watching:

49ers have gotten inquiries on backup QB C.J. Beathard, a name that bears some watching at the trade deadline.

Despite Falcons TE Austin Hooper being in the last year of his contract and team being pressed against cap, Atlanta will not trade its young TE by Tuesday’s deadline.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2019

Source tells me the #49ers have been hearing offers in the sixth-round range for No. 3 QB C.J. Beathard. S.F. is not inclined to do that deal with the trade deadline coming up on Tuesday.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) October 27, 2019

Beathard was a third-round pick by the Niners in the 2017 NFL Draft who was set to take over in San Francisco until he went down with an injury, which ultimately allowed Jimmy Garoppolo to take the ball and run with it. Any team that trades for Beathard will get the final year-and-a-half of his rookie deal. Beathard would be a fine candidate for a team in search of a bridge quarterback on a rookie-scale contract, but it doesn’t seem like the 49ers are willing to take a sixth-round offer for the third QB on their depth chart.

This trade probably had more fantasy football implications than it did anything else:

Trade: Arizona has reached agreement in principle to trade a conditional 2020 draft pick to Miami for RB Kenyan Drake, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 28, 2019

There was hope in the fantasy football community that Kenyan Drake would land somewhere he could be a starter or hand-cuff option. Instead, Drake is a place-holder in case David Johnson doesn’t get back on the field and if the Gus Edward things sputters out. That is a disappointing development for the Alabama product. At least the Cardinals could spin this as an opportunity to gain a compensatory draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft if Drake signs elsewhere in free agency.

The latest from our nation’s capital:

The #Redskins have told other teams they have a second-round pick on the table for LT Trent Williams. So it appears they’re holding out for a first-rounder. https://t.co/4zvN7CodUj

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 28, 2019

In addition to LT Trent Williams, the #Redskins are calling around trying to trade CB Josh Norman, per sources. Tough to get value right now: Norman is due almost $6 million for the rest of this season and hasn't been practicing because of thigh and hand injuries.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 28, 2019

Trent Williams is 31, has a season and a half left on his contract and has missed 15 of 64 possible games the past 4 years.

He’s also the best OT in the NFL when healthy. Gonna be fascinating to see if Washington can get a 1st for him

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) October 28, 2019

Heard from a DC source about possible trades beyond Trent Williams, who has been trying to get out since the spring. I get the sense they'd listen on Ryan Kerrigan and others (Josh Norman would be salary dump/little in return) beyond just Williams

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 28, 2019

Washington appears to be in sell mode. It starts with softening its stance on dealing hold-out left tackle Trent Williams, but trickles down into high-priced defensive starters such as pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan and possibly cornerback Josh Norman. That football organization is a mess from top to bottom. So while people like us are reeling after three consecutive Bears losses, just know it could be far, far worse.

The Bears’ next opponent could be pushing a starting offensive lineman out the door if the price is right:

Another trade note: continue to hear #Eagles Halapoulivaati Vaitai as the most available OT on the market. #Giants are reticent to tinker with the line while developing Daniel Jones, making Nate Solder a tougher get. Vaitai had several teams interested in him in preseason, too.

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) October 27, 2019

Elsewhere in the Eagles’ world:

Roster Move: #Eagles have acquired DE Genard Avery from Cleveland in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2021.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/UsKZIUoudF

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 28, 2019

The @Eagles loved Genard Avery in 2018 draft as a developmentant edge rusher who had explosiveness and toughness playing for Memphis. Avery ranked high among rookies with QB pressures. The @Browns have depth and were able to get 4th rd pick in 2021, per sources.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 28, 2019

Another future Bears opponent could do some moving-and-shaking before the deadline. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Rams could be looking to deal Aqib Talib. A veteran top-tier cornerback can be hard to find on the market, but trading Talib would allow the Rams to free up some dough that could help the team keep Jalen Ramsey in Los Angeles. Talib, who is on IR and is eligible to return before season’s end, will be a free agent after this season wraps up.

In that vein, keep an eye on the Bucs:

Bruce Arians said his young secondary “needs to get their heads out of their asses.” Two cornerbacks league sources tell me teams are trying to trade: Aqib Talib and Josh Norman. Not advocating, but passing along. Tough to make moves after investing so heavily at CB in the draft.

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 28, 2019

ESPN’s Jenna Laine also reports trade rumors continue to surround tight end OJ Howard. Because while he was previously believed to be unavailable, Laine hears the Bucs would consider trading him “for a substantial offers.” Expect multiple teams in on this one, though I doubt the Bears would be one of them.