The NFL trade deadline is approaching after next week and on Tuesday the date will pass and teams that are looking for deals are likely shaping up now and one team that could be a factor is the San Francisco 49ers, as they could be in the market for a wide receiver with injuries to Mario Manningham and Michael Crabtree and players like Josh Gordon, Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt could be available options.
Josh Gordon is the prime name that has come up in rumors, as ESPN.com is reporting that there are offers on the table that the Browns have with multiple teams. The report from ESPN.com says the Browns will not simply give up Gordon for any old deal and that they would like at least a high pick along with a player and courses that they they could even be asking for more than that. Adam Schefter reported that Cleveland is not actively looking to trade Gordon, but that they are willing to listen to offers from other teams and that is what's going down.
The trading deadline is less than a week away and will happen on Tuesday, October 29 at 4 pm and Gordon is one of the most likely receiver candidates to get moved, along with Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks. The Titans could deal Britt after he has had numerous disagreements with the team and after Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright have emerged, they could decide to move him. Nicks is being mentioned since the Giants have to re-sign him this offseason and the team is just 1-6 on the year after getting their first win on Monday night football against the Minnesota Vikings.
Gordon heads into the trade deadline week as the best player left on offense for the Cleveland Browns and he is coming off of a very solid season of 50 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie and he averaged an explosive 16 yards per carry. This season he has played in five games after being suspended and he is on pace to beat his numbers from last season, going for 27 catches for 450 yards and last season he led the team in targets with 96. Gordon has had 15 targets over the past few weeks and before making two receptions for 21 yards against the Packers, he had a huge game of seven catches and 126 yards in the loss. Gordon had a big drop in the game last week and while he likely won't get traded because of that, the franchise has shown that they are willing to deal, which they did with running back Trent Richardson.
The 49ers could be a prime option for any of those names, as they are dealing with serious injuries to both Manningham and Crabtree, who have not played this season. Crabtree is expected to be back in a few weeks and that could be a big boost, while Manningham appears ready to be coming off the PUP list soon according to ESPN.com, but that could not be for a couple weeks at least. The team already traded for one receiver this season in Jon Baldwin and even though it might cost a bit, the Niners could pull off a move.
