The MLB, NBA, and NHL always provide fans with plenty of rumors and excitement during their respective trade deadlines. Plenty of moves are made every year in all of these leagues as teams attempt to make a move that will provide them the boost they need, or think they need, to make the playoffs or compete for a championship. On-the-other-hand, however, the NFL’s trade deadline usually comes and goes without much excitement. Most NFL deadlines pass without any major trades being made or even rumored. Go ahead; look up the biggest NFL trade deadline deal of all time. Oct. 1987: Indianapolis acquires RB Eric Dickerson; Buffalo acquires LB Cornelius Bennett; L.A. Rams acquire RB Greg Bell and draft picks.

So why is the rumor mill buzzing this year during the 2011 NFL trade deadline? The assumption is that with the lack of training camp time to make the needed moves and get the best players onto the roster that some teams will look to make moves to get players that they think will impact their team.

Trades already made:

Denver trades WR Brandon Llyod to the St. Louis Rams for a sixth round pick
Seattle trades OLB Aaron Curry to the Oakland Raiders for 2 undisclosed draft picks
NY Jets trade WR Derrick Mason to the Houston Texans for a seventh round pick

Other names bring thrown around include the following:

Denver Broncos: Kyle Orton, Eddie Royal, DJ Williams, Brian Dawkins
Philadelphia Eagles: Asante Samuel
Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Clausen
Cleveland Browns: Peyton Hillis
Miami Dolphins: Jason Taylor

The newest name that is being thrown around in serious discussions is Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer. The Oakland Raiders, who lost QB Jason Campbell for the season yesterday, are making a last ditch effort to pull the QB from the Bengals. Mike Brown, the Bengals owner, has said repeatedly that he is fine letting Palmer retire and not play for the Bengals or any other NFL team.

Trades that make sense:

Jimmy Clausen to any team in need of a QB of the future. Clausen was a second round pick last year and was looked at as the future of the Panthers, but when the Panthers fired John Fox and hired Ron Rivera the question arose if Clausen would still be the future QB. The Panthers selected Cam Newton first overall in the 2011 Draft and answered the question for everyone.

Asante Samuel to the Detroit Lions for a Linebacker or Defensive Lineman. The Lions secondary is the weak point on their defense while their linebackers and lineman are playing extremely well. The Eagles on the other hand have the exact opposite problem. An agreement between these two teams could help both make a push for the playoffs.

Eddie Royal to the Carolina Panthers. This move would add another weapon for the Panthers who don’t have a viable threat to line-up opposite Steve Smith. Eddie Royal is young and could be a go to receiver for Cam Newton for years to come. A Clausen for Royal trade may make sense for both teams here as John Fox drafter Clausen last year and is in need of a QB in Denver.

Peyton Hillis to the Detroit Lions. The Lions would be a Super Bowl contender with Samuel and Hillis. Hillis would give them a bruising runner to pair with the speed of Jahvid Best and Hillis is under controversy in Cleveland and is a Free Agent after the year.

Jason Taylor to the Houston Texans. Mario Williams is out for the year and Jason Taylor may be playing his last year in the NFL. Taylor is nowhere near the talent of a Mario Williams, but he would be a good stop gap for the Texans. On the other hand the Dolphins are going nowhere this year and could use the picks they would receive to continue to rebuild.

DJ Williams and Brian Dawkins to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles desperately need help at MLB and a leader on defense. Dawkins would return to the Eagles and be the vocal leader they need on defense while Williams would be the immediate starter at the MLB position. The Broncos could get multiple picks that would help them to rebuild and neither of these players figure into the future of the team.

It may finish off as a quite trade deadline when it comes down to completed trades, but the rumor mill is filling up for the first time in many years for the NFL. More trades may be made tonight and tomorrow, but even if they are not this has been one of the more interesting trade deadlines the NFL has had.