The Kansas City Chiefs should be thrilled with the news that defensive star Chris Jones has decided to report instead of holding out.
If you were planning to attend training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs in the earliest days on the schedule, the expectation was that you wouldn’t catch a glimpse of one of the team’s brightest young stars in Chris Jones. However, that expectation has been undone by news that the defensive lineman has indeed reported for training camp on time with the rest of the franchise’s veterans on Friday.
Jones was expected to hold out for the first few days of training camp—at least until August 6—in his desire for a lengthy and expensive new contract extension. Jones is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, a season in which he’s scheduled to make a scant $1.92 million despite the production that placed him among the league leaders in sacks just one year ago.
Jones would have had to report to the Chiefs by August 6 in order to start to accrue the season needed to finish out his rookie deal, but his absence would have been a talking point and potential distraction in camp. Now, however, he’s playing nice and likely hoping the Chiefs meet him halfway and reward him for being a team player.
Per the Katz. brothers regarding Chris Jones, who is now reporting to camp on time: “He knows his value and if he has to play out his deal in order to reach free agency, then that’s what he will do. For now, he’s focused on winning a Super Bowl for Kansas City.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2019
Both sides in this negotiation have already said the long-term goal is to reach an agreement. The Chiefs undoubtedly want to lock up Jones along the front line for the foreseeable future, and Jones himself has said he loves Kansas City and wants to be here. However, Jones also saw the Chiefs trade for Frank Clark this offseason and immediately give him $20 million annually without playing a single snap for the team. He likely wants to get paid himself.
For the Chiefs, they hold all the leverage. Jones must play out this rookie deal on less than $2M and even after that, the Chiefs have the luxury of using the franchise tag to force Jones to play another year in K.C. for a significant raise. Jones would make more money, to be sure, next season, but he would likely lack the security he desires in a new long-term deal. From there, the Chiefs could even use the franchise tag a second time although it would get expensive and that would be three straight years of never giving a star player what he wants. Things would get contentious.
Expect the Chiefs to force Jones to play things out in this new defense under Steve Spagnuolo and then approach Jones about a long-term extension after this year when there’s a clearer vision for his use and another year of productivity and growth.