How Much Money Chiefs Star Chris Jones Might Command

Defensive stalwart Chris Jones is entering the last year of his four-year, $80 million contract, but the Kansas City Chiefs have expressed how much they want to extend his deal.

“Chris knows that we love him here,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “He’s been a part of this team for a long time. He’s one of the main reasons that we’ve had the success that we’ve had. He’s been that leader on the defense.”

The 29-year-old Jones made his desire for a new deal known by skipping the mandatory minicamp in June.

Assuming the Chiefs extend the four-time Pro Bowler, how much might it cost them?

Right now, Jones’ $80 million-deal ranks seventh in total value among all defensive tackles behind (in order) Aaron Donald, Jeffery Simmons, Daron Payne, Dexter Lawrence, Javon Hargrave and DeForest Buckner.

Donald’s three-year, $95 million contract might be hard to top. As good as Jones is, Donald is in rarefied air among current defensive linemen as a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

So although Jones might not be able to reach Donald’s average annual value (AAV) of more than $30 million, Simmons might be a better comparison because the underrated Tennessee Titans defensive tackle just signed his four-year, $94 million deal this offseason.

Perhaps Jones could command a four-year, $95 million deal. That way he could say he is tied for total value, exceed Simmons and it would still have a lower AAV than Donald.

While Simmons signed his extension in April and Donald signed his in June of 2022, coming off a Super Bowl LVI win, another potential contract extension is worth monitoring for Jones, a Super Bowl LVII champion.

New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has a rookie deal that is also set to expire after the 2023 season.

The 25-year-old Williams is a very good player who made the prestigious first-team All-Pro team at defensive tackle alongside Jones.

But Jones, who received the third most votes for Defensive Player of the Year last year, is the superior player who deserves more money.

He has 56.5 sacks during the last five years in addition to being stout against the run. And according to NFL Next Gen Stats, no defensive lineman in football was double-teamed more frequently last season than Jones, who led the league in pass rush win rate anyway.

“He has a lot of things I can’t coach,” Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen said. “He’s 6’6”, (310) pounds, runs well, he’s athletic, he has flexibility.”

The Chiefs actually would gain flexibility toward its salary cap — though that might sound counterintuitive — if they sign Jones to a lucrative, long-term deal. That’s because it gives them additional years where they can spread money out, perhaps even giving them cap space to sign someone like wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid expressed certainty that Jones would be at training camp but then backed off when pressed on the issue.

“Well, I’m not sure about anything. I’m not sure I’m gonna be there,” Reid joked. “I wish I could predict that … We’ll see.”

Reid’s message to him has been to stay in shape. By all accounts, Jones, who works out with trainer Pete Bommarito, the same one Carlos Dunlap uses, is working hard.

And if and when he shows up at camp, the Chiefs will welcome with open arms.

“It’s part of the business,” Mahomes said. “Whenever guys like that have to go handle their business, we let them handle it. When they jump back in the building, we get back to right where we left off.”