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NFL players most likely to be traded at the 2017 deadline
Sep 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) on the sideline in the second half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

NFL players most likely to be traded at the 2017 deadline

The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. ET. By the time Halloween rolls around, each team should know some of its major holes on the roster, whether due to injury or performance issues. There typically aren't a ton of moves, but given the uptick in trades during preseason, trades may be becoming more frequent in the NFL.

The following 20 players are some of the most likely candidates to be moved before the deadline.

 
1 of 20

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Eagles

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Eagles
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Admittedly, Blount's trade status is less likely now that the Eagles lost Darren Sproles to both a broken wrist and torn ACL. On top of that, Blount had his best game of the season in Week 3, gaining 67 yards on 12 carries and scoring a touchdown in the thrilling 27-24 victory over the Giants. Still, he has been a poor fit overall in Philadelphia's pass-heavy offense. Even with Sproles out, if the Eagles are confident in Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement and think rookie Donnel Pumphrey can contribute, Blount would seem expendable — however unlikely it may seem now.

 
2 of 20

Malcolm Butler, CB, Patriots

Malcolm Butler, CB, Patriots
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Butler has been in coach Bill Belichick's doghouse early in the year, even being relegated to the team's No. 3 cornerback. He was often mentioned in trade rumors during the offseason, and the Patriots showed with Jamie Collins last season that they're willing to make an in-season splash.

 
3 of 20

Morris Claiborne, CB, Jets

Morris Claiborne, CB, Jets
Stan Szeto / USA Today Sports Images

Signed to a one-year deal with the Jets, Claiborne is just trying to revitalize his career after years of disappointment in Dallas. Seemingly tanking for Sam Darnold, the Jets have no reason to keep Claiborne around into the last two months of the season if they can find an alternative.

 
4 of 20

Vontae Davis, CB, Colts

Vontae Davis, CB, Colts
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Davis has missed the early part of the season due to injury and is a pending free agent. He will cost the team dearly to re-sign, and new GM Chris Ballard could decide to blow up the roster in the offseason. Davis could fetch a nice group of draft picks.

 
5 of 20

Matt Forte, RB, Jets

Matt Forte, RB, Jets
Stan Szeto / USA Today Sports Images

Forte was mentioned in trade rumors during the preseason and is now involved in a running back committee for an awful team. The former Bears star could help another team and will be a free agent after 2017.

 
6 of 20

Frank Gore, RB, Colts

Frank Gore, RB, Colts
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Like Matt Forte, Gore is headed toward free agency after the season. His yards per carry average has been below four since joining the Colts in 2015, and the team has two young running backs in Marlon Mack and Matt Jones. If the Colts continue to lose, it would be worth seeing what the team can get for its veteran back.

 
7 of 20

Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals

Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

Hill was all the rage after his rookie season in 2014, but he's regressed over the last two-plus seasons. Now a pending free agent, Hill has struggled early and lost playing time to rookie Joe Mixon. Cincinnati is almost certain to let him walk in free agency during the offseason, so it might as well see what it can get for him in a trade if the team continues to struggle.

 
8 of 20

Dontrelle Inman, WR, Chargers

Dontrelle Inman, WR, Chargers
Orlando Jorge Ramirez / USA Today Sports Images

Inman was pushed down the depth chart after the Chargers used a first-round pick on Mike Williams. Williams has yet to make his NFL debut due to injury, but Inman could still be on the trading block as a pending free agent. The Chargers have talent but could lose ground on a playoff spot due to the tough AFC West.

 
9 of 20

Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots

Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots
David Butler II / USA Today Sports Images

Lewis has already been mentioned in trade rumors, barely used as the Patriots' fourth running back. The pending free agent's injury history is a concern, but he has the versatility to help almost any team.

 
10 of 20

A.J. McCarron, QB, Bengals

A.J. McCarron, QB, Bengals
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

McCarron's future could go in a number of directions. Andy Dalton has struggled during the first two games of the season, so he could even get some starts in Cincy this season. Also a pending free agent, McCarron is likely to search for a starting opportunity in the offseason a la Mike Glennon. If the Bengals fall out of contention and don't see McCarron in their future, they're likely to see what they can get for him.

 
11 of 20

Zach Miller, TE, Bears

Zach Miller, TE, Bears
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Miller is one of the few reliable targets in Chicago but also going on age 33 and a pending free agent. The Bears could get a late-round draft pick for Miller if they decide to move him.

 
12 of 20

Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Colts

Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Colts
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Acquired by GM Chris Ballard in the offseason, Mingo is a former first-round pick by the Browns who has mostly served on special teams for Indianapolis early this year. That's a bad sign for his future given the team's lack of talent, but someone still might want to take a flier on the pending free agent.

 
13 of 20

Terence Newman, CB, Vikings

Terence Newman, CB, Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

The Vikings looked like true contenders after Week 1 when Sam Bradford dominated the awful New Orleans defense, but now the health of his knee is very much in doubt. If things start to go in the wrong direction for the Vikings, Newman has no real reason to stick around at age 39. Minnesota would owe it to Newman to find him a contender.

 
14 of 20

Alex Okafor, DE, Saints

Alex Okafor, DE, Saints
Scott Galvin / USA Today Sports Images

The Saints have been in desperate need of pass rushers to join Cameron Jordan. Okafor hasn't recorded a sack through two games, though he does have nine tackles. However, the Saints need to continue building their defense. A pending free agent, Okafor should get the Saints a draft pick or two if he's moved.

 
15 of 20

Brian Quick, WR, Redskins

Brian Quick, WR, Redskins
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Quick revitalized his career with the Rams last season, but he has just one target in three games in Washington this season. That's a very bad sign for Quick, though he does have the physical tools to be a contributor somewhere. Washington could move the pending free agent if the season goes downhill.

 
16 of 20

Brandon Tate, WR, Bills

Brandon Tate, WR, Bills
Dennis Schneidler / USA Today Sports Images

If Buffalo's preseason trades are any indication, the Bills aren't really playing for 2017. Tate has received more action than anticipated as a wideout in the early going, but he's been mostly used as a kick returner during his career. That's the type of role that can help a team immediately and should generate some trade value for the Bills.

 
17 of 20

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Saints

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Saints
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

Benched in Week 2, Vaccaro has been mentioned prominently in trade rumors. The former first-round pick will almost certainly be traded in the coming weeks.

 
18 of 20

Adam Vinatieri, K, Colts

Adam Vinatieri, K, Colts
Phillip G. Pavely / USA Today Sports Images

The 44-year-old Vinatieri is in the final year of his contract and has limited seasons left, if this isn't his final year. A future Hall of Famer, he's made a reputation as a clutch kicker and could help a potential playoff team in need of more consistency at kicker. The Colts are going nowhere fast without Andrew Luck.

 
19 of 20

Kyle Williams, DT, Bills

Kyle Williams, DT, Bills
Kevin Hoffman / USA Today Sports Images

Williams isn't the player he was early in his career, but the 34-year-old can still contribute as a run stuffer. If the Bills are out of contention in late October, they could move their 12-year veteran and pending free agent.

 
20 of 20

Shareece Wright, CB, Bills

Shareece Wright, CB, Bills
Kevin Hoffman /USA Today Sports Images

Wright struggled in Baltimore last season and has primarily made a contribution on special teams with the Bills this year. Despite his struggles as a cover corner, the pending free agent is very experienced and could be a cheap, worthwhile addition at midseason.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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