The NFL’s deadline for negotiating with franchise tagged-players is just around the corner, yet it appears at this stage that Friday may well come and go without at least two defensive playmakers agreeing to terms with their respective franchises.

In the last few moments, it has been suggested that the Kansas City Chiefs and defensive back Eric Berry will struggle to find a resolution before the clock runs out.

Seeing as talks have dragged along at a snail’s pace over the past weeks, only a major change to proceedings will see Berry and the Chiefs put the situation to bed.

This will come as music to the ears of Kansas City’s AFC West rivals, although one of these teams have problems of their own.

The Denver Broncos have made it no secret that Von Miller has a major contract on the table, that they are keen for him to sign, but it seems that the star linebacker is less than impressed with the offer made by John Elway and the Broncos’ front office.

Miller has the option to simply ignore the offer and sit out the 2016 season, but Denver will seek to avoid this scenario for two reasons.

1) If Miller sits, he can only receive the non-exclusive tag next year, which would allow other teams to compete for the Super Bowl MVP and pick him up in exchange for draft picks ahead of the 2017 season.

2) Von Miller is really, really good at football.

It can only be assumed that Denver will continue to negotiate with their defensive talisman and further increase the ‘guaranteed’ portion of the six-year, $114m deal that is in play. But will they make Miller an offer he can’t refuse?

On Friday, we will find out.