NFL Rumors: Vikings and T.J. Hockenson not close in contract talks
One of the big storylines for the Minnesota Vikings this season will continue to be extending tight end T.J. Hockenson beyond this season.
Minnesota essentially gave up a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 pick swap to the rival Detroit Lions at last year's trade deadline to acquire the former first-rounder in the trade. When he arrived with the Vikings, he made an immediate impact in helping to further open up a passing game that was desperate for a high-end option outside of Justin Jefferson.
Hockenson is now set to play the 2023 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, though, and has been looking to ink a new deal with the Vikings. Those talks, as of now, are not going well for Minnesota.
Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis of The Athletic (subscription required) reported that the Vikings and Hockenson are "far apart" in their ongoing contract negotiations. Hockenson wants to reset the market at the tight end position but Minnesota is left in a tough spot with a Jefferson extension, a looming Christian Darrisaw contract, and an uncertain QB future all looming.
Optically, it would not be great for the Vikings to give up valuable draft picks for 1.5 years of a player they're unable to re-sign. However, if there is movement on the Hockenson front in these negotiations where they can find a middle ground and lock him up for a still market-setting deal, that could perhaps be a clear indication that Kirk Cousins, also a free agent after this season, might no longer be part of the organization's future plans, as has been rumored.
NFL Rumors: Dolphins tried to trade for Josh Jacobs amid holdout
Outside of Jonathan Taylor, it appears that most of the running back contract drama around the NFL has died down a bit. Saquon Barkley got his new deal with the Giants and, while Josh Jacobs didn't get a new contract, reports have indicated that the Raiders have no plans to trade the running back.
The Miami Dolphins can seemingly back that up.
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required), the Dolphins inquired about a Josh Jacobs trade but were turned down bluntly by the Vegas front office. Miami was told that the running back was not available on the trade market.
It's no shock that the Dolphins are leaving no stone unturned in this tumultuous running back offseason given all fo the rumors we've heard about the club. They were in on Dalvin Cook in free agency, losing out on him to the rival Jets, and have been listed as one of the favorites to land Taylor after his trade request from the Colts.
Given the reporting recently, it's also no surprise that the Raiders rebuffed Miam's attempt at trde talks centering on Jacobs. Having said that, perhaps they should. Jacobs remains absent from training camp and has yet to sign the franchise tag placed on him. The two sides were never close on a contract and it seems as if this is ultimately heading no place good for this marriage.
As of right now, the Dolphins or any other team aren't going to get much movement on a Josh Jacobs trade. But the longer his holdout continues, the more it might be worth inquiring again.
NFL Rumors: Patrick Mahomes addresses Chris Jones holdout
Chris Jones is still not with the Kansas City Chiefs. In fact, he made a statement on social media that indicated he's willing to continue his holdout until Week 8 of the regular season -- just before the NFL Trade Deadline, incidentally. And that's obviously a big problem for the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Jones is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and the engine that drives the Chiefs defense. Of course, with those accolades under his belt, he wants to be compensated as the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL, by a sizeable margin too. That's why the two sides have not reached a deal and why he's not with the team in training camp.
And apparently, the most important player on the Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, didn't expect the situation to play out like this.
Speaking with Nate Taylor of The Athletic, Mahomes made it clear how important Jones is to Kansas City's success and a quest for a Super Bowl repeat, but most notably adding that nobody "expected him to be out this long."
"I know how much Chris loves the Chiefs," Mahomes said. "I just try to stay out of it and tell Chris I love him. We know he's preparing himself. ... I don't think anyone expected him to be out this long. He's a vital part of this organization."
Mahomes' addressing the situation make two things clear. Though he doesn't want to be in the middle of it, he knows the Chiefs need Chris Jones to reach the heights they want to get to, and he knows that Jones deserves his payday. It certainly feels like an endorsement of the "pay the man" type of sentiment.
And really, it's hard to argue with that sentiment -- especially when Mahomes himself has given the Chiefs more flexibility financially than virtually any other star quarterback would.