4:10 p.m.: We gave it an extra few ticks just to make sure nothing was trickling in late, but it appears there was just one move during the 2013 version of the NFL trade deadline.
The Patriots traded for veteran defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga just before the clock hit 4 p.m. on Tuesday, also getting a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth-rounder. Aside from that, though, there were lots of rumors to be had and potential deals in the works, but everyone else is staying put.
Jared Allen seemed to draw the most attention on the day, getting reported interest from the Seahawks and Broncos among other teams, but both teams pulled out before the deadline and the 31-year-old will have to stick it out a few more weeks in Minnesota.
Other notable names on the market who are staying put include Browns receiver Josh Gordon, the Titans’ Kenny Britt, the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks, Redskins tight end Fred Davis, Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez and Bills safety Jairus Byrd.
Well, that just about wraps things up here. Be sure to keep up with NESN.com for reaction to the Sopoaga deal and, of course, all your Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics coverage.
3:53 p.m.: Sopoaga is a 6-foot-2, 330-pound defensive tackle from Hawaii. He spent eight seasons with the 49ers after being selected by San Francisco in the fourth round of the 2004 draft. This was his first season in Philadelphia after signing a three-year contract with them this offseason.
He should help fill the void that Wilfork has left in the middle of the Patriots’ defensive line. Opposing running backs have exposed the Patriots’ issues against the run over the past few weeks, and it appears Bill Belichick found one answer to stopping it.
Read more about the trade here >>
3:41 p.m.: The Patriots have acquired some help on the defensive line.
The Patriots and Eagles completed a trade for nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga just before the deadline on Tuesday, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer. The Patriots get Sopoaga and a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick, per Glazer.
Sopoaga, 32, is a nine-year veteran, spending eight years in San Francisco before signing a three-year deal with the Eagles during the offseason. The Patriots desperately need help against the run, especially in the middle of the defensive line, as it’s been a weak spot since Vince Wilfork suffered a season-ending Achilles tear.
3:37 p.m.: The Redskins and Titans are still working hard to get rid of a couple talented pass catchers.
Washington has yet to get any decent interest on tight end Fred Davis, meanwhile The Titans are still looking for a buyer on Kenny Britt, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora.
3:29 p.m.: It appears at least three of the top trade targets leaguewide will be keeping their current addresses for the time being.
Josh Gordon and Hakeem Nicks aren’t going anywhere after both were rumored as prime targets over the past few weeks, according to Adam Schefter. The Falcons also seem set on keeping tight end Tony Gonzalez, which is in line with their initial stance on the future Hall of Famer.
3:25 p.m.: The Vikings’ trade partners for Jared Allen seem to be diminishing by the hour.
First the Seahawks pulled out of the race earlier and now it appears the Broncos are also out of the running, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
There was at least one other team believed to have interest in acquiring Allen during the day. It will be interesting to see if he’s moved at this point, with time winding down ahead of the final bell.
3:22 p.m.: The 49ers seem keen on making a move before the clock is up.
The Niners are working the phones in hopes of adding some depth to the back end of their roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
San Francisco could use another weapon on the outside to help quarterback Colin Kaepernick. They also have a need on the defensive line, while linebacker Aldon Smith remains away from the team in rehab.
Look out for them to try and do something before 4 p.m.
2:45 p.m.: The Jared Allen trade saga presses on.
After being linked with the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the day — only for that rumor to be dismissed — the Denver Broncos are apparently now in hot pursuit of the defensive end, according to NFL Network’s Gil Brandt.
The Broncos have struggled getting consistent pressure from their defensive line this season after losing Elvis Dumervil due to a contract snafu during the offseason. Allen would add an immediate boost to the Broncos’ line and give them a top-tier pass rusher. The Vikings will likely require a second- or third-round pick in return to get the deal done.
2:40 p.m.: The Falcons are still unlikely to move Tony Gonzalez within the next hour or so, but the Chiefs are keeping the lines open just in case.
The Chiefs are keeping an eye on their former tight end’s availability, according to the National Football Post’s Jason Cole. Gonzalez has already said that he will not request a trade from Atlanta but that he also wouldn’t oppose moving if it were a good situation — like Kansas City.
Gonzalez spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Chiefs, who are 8-0 on the season. The future Hall of Famer has already announced this would be his last season. He has never played in a Super Bowl, and the Falcons at 2-5 don’t seem to be likely contenders.
2:17 p.m.: The Philadelphia Eagles have finally dipped their toes into the trade pool.
The Eagles have floated defensive end Vinny Curry and defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga out to teams to see if there was any interest on the market, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Curry was a second-round pick in the 2012 draft, but he’s yet to emerge as a consistent difference-maker for the Eagles. Sopoaga signed with the Eagles this offseason after eight years with the 49ers. He could be a fit for teams in the market for a big nose tackle, which could include the Patriots.
2:05 p.m.: Jared Allen is actively being shopped by the Vikings, but the Seahawks are apparently not in the mix.
The Seahawks were one of two teams reportedly in talks with the Vikes for the All-Pro defensive end, but it appears they are in fact not working on a deal for Allen after all, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
There are still two teams vying for his services, but it appears that one of them is not the Seahawks.
1:24 p.m.: The Vikings are making the most noise on an otherwise quiet deadline day.
They are still shopping Jared Allen around, and it seems like a deal could be in the works with either Seattle or one other team. The Vikings are hoping to get a second-round pick in return for Allen, but they would also consider accepting a conditional third-rounder in return, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortsensen.
Allen, who is making $14 million this season and carries a $17 million cap hit, is apparently willing to rework his deal in order to accommodate his new team’s cap space, but only if it’s the right situation, per CBS Sports Jason La Canfora.
1:05 p.m.: The Seattle Seahawks already have one of the most vaunted defenses in football, and they’re apparently aiming to make it even better.
The Vikings are in talks with two teams about making a deal defensive end Jared Allen, and the Seahawks are making a late push for his services, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Seahawks appear to be the leader in the Allen sweepstakes, but the Vikings are still talking with at least one more team about dealing the All-Pro pass rusher.
The Seahawks are currently third in the NFL in sacks with 26 on the season, which includes four players with at least 3 1/2 sacks each. Allen has 4 1/2 sacks in seven games with the Vikings this season.
12:45 p.m.: Bill Belichick pulled off an absolute last-second trade before the deadline last season, and he’s not ruling out another down-to-the-wire deal this year either.
“You never know,” Belichick said on WEEI on Tuesday morning.
Belichick has made six in-season trades during his 14 seasons in New England, but last year’s deal for Aqib Talib was the only one executed on deadline day. Apparently the deal came together right at the last moment, too, so Belichick won’t deny the possibility exists for another last-second trade  this year.
“If you had asked me the Monday before the [2012] trade deadline, there wasn’t a lot going on. [That trade] came together very quickly.”
Here is a quick history of the Patriots’ in-season trades:
- Traded Deion Branch to the Seahawks for a first-round pick after Week 1 in 2006.
- Acquired linebacker Prescott Burgess from the Ravens for a conditional late-round draft pick in 2009.
- Traded Laurence Maroney and a sixth-round pick to the Broncos for a fourth-round pick after Week 1 in 2010.
- Traded Randy Moss and a seventh-round pick to the Vikings for third-round pick after Week 3 in 2010.
- Acquired Deion Branch from the Seahawks for a fourth-round pick before Week 6 in 2010.
- Acquired Aqib Talib and a seventh-round pick from the the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick at the deadline in 2012.
12:08 p.m.: Jared Allen seems like he’d be happier anywhere but in Minnesota right now, and the Vikings are apparently open to granting his wish.
The Vikings have talked with a few teams about trading Allen, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, and they are open to fielding offers for him. There hasn’t been anything substantial just yet, but that could change in the almost four hours left before the deadline.
Allen, 31, is in the final year of his current deal with the Vikings, and he could be a major contributor for a team still in the playoff hunt. The Vikings would receive a compensatory fifth-round pick in 2015 for Allen if he walked in free agency, per Pro Football Talk, so they’ll likely need at least a fourth-rounder to willingly part with the pass rusher.
Allen has 21 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and one forced fumble in seven games for the 1-6 Vikings this season.
11:15 a.m.: The waters are still pretty cool around the NFL, as no deals seem imminent with only a few hours left until the 4 Â p.m. deadline.
While teams continue to call around in search for some potential stopgaps or even a few long-term solutions, let’s look at a list of five deals that should happen before Tuesday’s over and done with.
1. Tony Gonzalez to Chiefs — Back to where it all began. The Chiefs are 8-0 and staring down a first-round bye, meanwhile the Falcons might be peeking at what could be in 2014. This deal gets Gonzo to a contender with a chance and gives Alex Smith a legitimate red-zone target. Maybe the Falcons get a fifth-rounder back in return. That’s good value for a soon to be retiree.
2. Hakeem Nicks to 49ers — Michael Crabtree will be back at some point, but no one is sure what his level of play will be, Nicks is in a contract year and, as much as Anquan Boldin has helped, the Niners could really use another weapon for Colin Kaepernick. He’ll probably cost them a third- or fourth-rounder. Well worth it if he can help get you over the hump in the playoffs.
3. Maurice Jones-Drew to Saints — Drew Brees has a handle on things through the air, Â but the Saints are still averaging just 3.4 yards per attempt on the ground this year. Jones-Drew is unlikely to be traded but a deal isn’t out of the question, especially if it brings back some value to the rebuilding Jags. The Saints could bolster their run game in exchange for say Mark Ingram and a seventh rounder? Maybe that’s wishful thinking, but at most he’ll cost them a fourth-rounder and could be re-upped on the relative cheap in the offseason.
4. Kenny Britt to Chargers — Philip Rivers has been crazy efficient this season, giving the Chargers some hope for the postseason once again. Just imagine if he had a legit receiver to target once in a while. Vincent Brown has been serviceable, Keenan Allen has been an emerging stud and Antonio Gates is, well, Antonio Gates. Give him the 6-foot-3 Britt to target on the outside once in a while, and the Chargers’ offense might be even more potent. He could probably be had for a sixth- or seventh-rounder, too, and worst case you cut bait at no cost at the end of the season.
5. Matt Hasselbeck to Rams — If Monday night’s game proved anything, it’s that the Rams’ defense is among the best in the league — oh, and they desperately need a quarterback. Kellen Clemens isn’t the answer to anyone’s problems, and if the Rams still have any hopes of making the playoffs they’ll need more talent under center. Hasselbeck, 38, isn’t exactly a spring chicken anymore, and the Colts might be reluctant to let him go, but he can still lead an offense into the end zone.
10:35 a.m.: Well, it looks like Tony Gonzalez might be interested in moving on from the Falcons after all.
Gonzalez is in the middle of his final NFL season, and the Falcons (2-5), a preseason favorite, are barely clinging onto any glimmer of hope for the playoffs. After holding firm that he had no interest in playing elsewhere this season, Gonzalez relented on his stance after the Falcons’ 27-13 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, explaining that he wouldn’t ask for a trade but wouldn’t be opposed to one either.
Falcons head coach Mike Smith has stood firm in his assertion that Gonzo wasn’t going anywhere before the deadline, though, and it appears the organization is sticking to that notion, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Gonzalez won his first playoff game last season, helping the Falcons come within moments of a Super Bowl berth, and has never played in — never mind won — the big game. With the Falcons all but out of contention at this point, it would seem only proper to deal the future Hall of Famer off to a contender and at least give him a shot at winning a title.
10:01 a.m.: Head coach Rob Chudzinski and the Browns maintain that they will not trade emerging star receiver Josh Gordon before the trade deadline on
Tuesday. Although, they could be interested at the right price.
The Browns aren’t actively pursuing a trade for Gordon, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, but he is available if the right deal comes along. Gordon, a second-round pick in the 2012 supplemental draft, is under contract for two more seasons, giving the Browns no great urgency to deal him away.
Gordon was suspended two games by the NFL to begin the 2013 season and has some off-field concerns, including a checkered college career. He was involved in multiple drug-related issues during his career at Baylor and was eventually suspended indefinitely from the team after failing a drug test before his junior season.
Gordon, 22, finished his rookie year with 50 catches and a team-leading 805 yards and five touchdowns. In six games this season, he’s already posted 32 receptions for 582 yards and three scores.
9:41 a.m.: Fred Davis was a healthy scratch for the Redskins on Sunday, as it seems that rookie third-round pick Jordan Reed has jumped him on the depth chart.
With seemingly no place for Davis, a 2008 second-round pick, on the field, the Redskins have been actively shopping him over the last week, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer. They’ve called around to a number of teams and are hoping to get something in return for him before the deadline.
Davis, 27, missed nine games due to injury last season, but he emerged as a dangerous pass-catching tight end in 2011, notching career highs with 59 catches and 796 yards while playing in just 12 games. His combination of size (6-foot-4, 247 pounds) and speed make him an intriguing option for any team searching for a “move” tight end.
9 a.m.: With exactly half of the NFL teams above .500 and another four just one game under that line, plenty of teams could be looking to add one final key ingredient to help their playoff push this season. And quite a few names are available on the market, albeit at the right price.
Wide receivers have been the primary trade targets of choice this year, with rumblings about more than a handful of players circulating around the league. The Titans are open to trading former first-round pick Kenny Britt. The Browns have entertained the idea of shopping both of their troubled former second-rounders Greg Little and Josh Gordon. The Jaguars, who look destined for an 0-16 season, might want be interested in trading their best asset, Justin Blackmon, for some valuable trade chips. And, the Giants, at just 2-6 on the year, might be ready to throw in the towel and move Hakeem Nicks before his contract is up.
A few former All Pros could be available at the right price as well. Bills safety Jairus Byrd and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen are both in the final years of their current deals and unlikely to re-up, so don’t be surprise if one or both of them are on the move before the day is through. Other notable players like Saints running back Mark Ingram, the Raiders’ Darren McFadden, the Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew, Redskins tight end Fred Davis and even Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez have at least garnered interest and could be gone before days end, too.
The official deadline is 4 p.m. ET, so you can bet teams will be working those phone lines all the way right up until the final bell. Stay with the NESN.com NFL trade deadline live blog for constant updates on any and all rumors throughout the day.
