Despite a litany of media reports suggesting otherwise, the Christian McCaffrey trade talks are in the early stages of a junior high prom: More staring and waiting than actual dancing.

Right now, that’s the proper framing of talks involving the All-Pro Carolina Panthers running back.

There’s an emphasis on “right now” because things can change quickly. But any potential deal has a long way to go through before the league’s Nov. 1 trade deadline. At the moment, there are a handful of interested teams checking in. Not one has made a concrete offer. That includes the Buffalo Bills, who despite reports of a pursuit, are also taking a wait-and-see posture. We’ll get to the particulars of how a deal can come together — and who could be in play — but first, let’s unwrap some context surrounding McCaffrey and current interest.