NFL insider notes: Chiefs holding firm on Chris Jones offer; why Aaron Rodgers' Jets may not be done wheeling and dealing

With the season less than a week away, several questions still remain unanswered, specifically the contract status and immediate future of two defensive linemen, Chris Jones and Nick Bosa. Here’s the latest on Jones and a few notes on the New York Jets.

So, where do the Chris Jones contract negotiations presently stand? People I’ve spoken with believe the deal will get done soon, and the two sides are not far apart. That being the case, I’m also told that the Kansas City Chiefs are standing firm in their most recent offer and may not be willing to budge anymore.

There has been a lot of criticism in the football and agent community thrown towards Jones and his negotiation team for the way they’ve handled the situation.

While they want Aaron Donald money, to a person, everyone says Jones is not Aaron Donald. NFL agents I’ve spoken to tell me that the contract the Chiefs have offered Jones is more than fair.

Super Bowl LVII - Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles

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Latest on Chris Jones' Chiefs holdout

Among other criticisms, there’s a feeling Jones is being selfish in these negotiations, an opinion that’s sure to draw pushback from many.

The Chiefs have several important players whose contracts must be renewed in the near future. If Jones gobbles up too much salary cap space and the Chiefs can’t sign the other stars, the dynasty in Kansas City may be in jeopardy.

Philadelphia Eagles vs Indianapolis Colts

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Why the Colts found no takers for a Jonathan Taylor trade

Over the last day, reports surfaced that the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers both had contract offers on the table that satisfied Jonathan Taylor and would have made him among the highest-paid running backs in the league. The teams, though, were not able to meet the asking price of the Indianapolis Colts, which should surprise no one.

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, I penned an article on the situation and mentioned that Indianapolis wants to keep Taylor and is in no hurry to trade him. The article said that a trade is more likely to happen during the season, as no team would match the steep price the Colts are asking for their running back.

I was recently told that the Colts still prefer to keep Taylor and would try to negotiate a contract to make their star running back happy. There's no desire to get Taylor out of the building; rather, they prefer to lock the doors and keep him there.

New York Jets Introduce Quarterback Aaron Rodgers

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Keep an eye out for a move from Jets GM Joe Douglas

Before final cuts, word I was hearing was that the Jets were in the market to trade for an offensive lineman. The original belief was that they could move one of their running backs for a blocker, as they're loaded at the position. That never happened, though.

People in the league believe that at some point during the season, the Jets could have to move a defensive lineman in the hope of getting back a starting offensive lineman.

The offensive line lacks quality and depth. There’s also a feeling that Duane Brown, who plays the all-important left tackle spot, won’t end the season. The 38-year-old lineman has been banged up, and his health is a major concern.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders

Many are expecting Mecole Hardman to have a career season in the Jets offense. The offseason signing is the small, shifty, run-after-catch wideout the system needs.

There’s a feeling he would quickly become one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets, especially if the offensive line goes south. Hardman could be the recipient of the quick, dump-off receiver screens the team may need to keep the chains moving if they can’t get consistent protection for Rodgers.

Hardman signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Jets in March. He caught 59 passes for 693 yards with two TDs in 2021 but was limited to just eight games last season after suffering a core muscle injury.