All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones has been a staple of Kansas City’s defensive line for over seven years now, but the team can’t seem to muster up the money to pay him.
KANSAS CITY, MO.– If there’s a definition of a staple in football, it’d be Chris Jones. The five time All-Pro defensive tackle has seen his fair share of playing time, bolstering the defensive line of what is now a dynasty in the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s been as steadfast as a steamboat, earning his keep by being a veteran presence on a loaded Chiefs roster since 2016, spending over seven years with the organization. It’s this year though that’ll have to change.
As Jones gained tenure and became a five time Pro Bowler, his cost has gone up. In 2023 he combined for 50 tackles as the team’s premier defensive lineman alongside second-year veteran George Karlaftis, paired with 10.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. It was an important distinction whether or not Jones would be kept around for the 2023 season anyway. The Chiefs will now have an even more crucial decision to make– one that might end in heartbreak for both parties.
The two sides have expressed mutual agreement on Jones staying in Kansas City long term. Whether or not the sentiment is simply smoke and mirrors is not yet clear, but Jones’ hefty $32 million paints a much clearer story. According to Adam Schefter, the Chiefs will have to pay a pricey premium in order to keep Jones anyway.
Using normal NFL franchise tag figures– the Chiefs will only have to pay Jones the $19.7 million utilizing the tag’s formula. With Jones’ cap figure in 2023, they’ll have to nearly double the payment reaching the aforementioned $32 million. This alone makes it a tough figure to muster up for the Chiefs who are still only $15.5 million underneath the cap with plenty of players left to sign.
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The Chiefs solved the problem short term by inking Jones to a four-year, $85 million deal with over $60 million guaranteed. Yet, time has run out– and Jones might have to break his promise to the Chiefs faithful.
“I need three of those rings baby,” Jones said at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade. “We ain’t done yet. We ain’t done yet. Kansas City, we will be back here next year. And for those who want Chris Jones gone, I ain’t going nowhere, baby! Woo! I wanna be here this year, next year and the year after.”
In order for Kansas City to keep Jones, it would take a prayer and a miracle, however isn’t completely out of the picture. By cutting a veteran player like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and franchise tagging L’Jarius Sneed, Jones could find a way to remain on the roster. However, the notion does seem a little far-fetched as the team seems set on signing Sneed back to a long-term contract.
The free agent market for Jones seems to be red-hot though when the new season starts in March, with plenty of teams ready to offer Jones the money he wants, albeit not in Kansas City. We ranked our top three teams that might land Jones: the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. We found that all three teams might have some interest in him, if not the other 28 teams are sure to have some shred of an offer in mind for Jones.
For Kansas City, winning the Super Bowl seems to have come at a cost, losing one of the best defensive players the team has seen in recent memory. Chris Jones may not stay in Kansas City, but he is sure to remain a mainstay in the NFL.
