The Kansas City Chiefs appear confident that they will retain Chris Jones this offseason.
Kansas City has “growing optimism” that it will re-sign Jones in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
“He deserves to get paid,” one league source told Russini earlier this week.
Another source told Russini: “He should get a massive deal from the Chiefs.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told reporters Tuesday that re-signing Jones was the team’s top priority entering the 2024 season.
“I love Chris,” Veach said. “Tried really hard to get something done, and we didn’t, but when we got together right after that Detroit game, we had a great talk. Both parties, I think, want to be here, so we’ll get to work. That’s certainly a guy we want back and love and want to see him finish his career here in Kansas City.”
And, for what it’s worth, Jones doesn’t want to go anywhere, either. Speaking to ESPN after helping the Chiefs win Super Bowl 58, Jones said he wants to remain in Kansas City moving forward.
“I told (Chairman and CEO) Clark Hunt they’ve got to keep me here so we can keep this thing going,” Jones said, per Jordan Foote of Arrowhead Report. “We’ve got something special brewing here. We have a lot of young guys that continue to get better throughout the year. (Running back Isiah Pacheco) going into his third year and with guys like that, we can continue to carry this thing, man.”
Kansas City has already made several moves to ensure it is in the best place possible to retain the veteran defensive tackle.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was informed earlier this week that he would be released, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via ESPN’s Adam Teicher). The move saves the Chiefs $12 million against the 2024 salary cap, which rose to $255.4 million, up $30 million from last season.
The Chiefs also placed the $19.8 million franchise tag on star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. If the two sides are unable to come to terms on a long-term agreement, Sneed could be traded prior to the 2024 season.
Russini noted that Kansas City could create even more cap space this offseason by “converting a sizable amount of the roster bonus in quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract into a signing bonus.”
Jones, who has been looking to secure a long-term contract extension since before the 2023 season, is seeking a deal worth $30 million annually, according to Russini. That would make him the NFL’s third-highest-paid defensive player behind San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa and Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald.
Jones’ market value is worth $85.4 million over three years ($28.4 million annually), according to Spotrac.
The five-time Pro Bowler has spent his entire eight-year career in Kansas City, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. During the 2023 campaign, he posted 10.5 sacks, four pass breakups, 30 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 29 quarterback hits in 16 games.
Jones also played a crucial role in the team’s latest Super Bowl run, posting 0.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, eight tackles and six quarterback hits in four games. The Chiefs went on to defeat the 49ers for their second straight championship and third in the last five seasons.
If the Chiefs re-sign Jones this offseason, they’ll have as good a chance as anyone to make it back to the Super Bowl next year.
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