Defensive tackle Chris Jones
What to do with defensive tackle Chris Jones will be a major Chiefs storyline this offseason. The best course of action for all parties involved is to extend his time in a Chiefs uniform, possibly for the rest of his career.
Jones is candid about his desire to stay in Kanas City, for what that is worth. In March, he tweeted, “I’m a Chief for life. I will not play for another franchise”, responding to fans calling his Kansas City future into question. 2023 is the final year of Jones’ four-year, $80 million contract, which he signed back in July 2020. The defensive tackle market has changed significantly since that deal, and Jones has a great case to be the league’s top-paid defensive tackle. Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne and Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons signed recent extensions, only increasing Jones’ pending extension’s value. Jones is set to earn $19.5 million in base salary with no guaranteed money left on his current deal, carrying a $28.3 million salary cap hit in 2023.
An extension would be a win for both parties, but especially for Kansas City. The team has some roster work to do after the draft, and they need cap space to do so. If the team wants to acquire veterans or free agents to bolster the roster, extending Jones will open some cap space in the 2023 season. But Jones’ extortion will likely be the last and biggest payday of his career. Simmons’ deal pays him $23.5 million annually, well below Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald’s $31.7 million annually. Jones is unquestionably a top-two defensive tackle in the league and deserves to be paid as such. While Veach may not splurge to the levels of Donald’s contract, Jones has earned a pay raise ahead of the 2023 season.