The Kansas City Chiefs and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones appear to be engaged in a high-stakes game of chicken as it relates to his contract situation.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported Tuesday that Jones is holding out of mandatory minicamp. He also noted the Chiefs aren’t likely to negotiate with Jones whatsoever until he shows up.
Jones, 24, made Second-Team All-Pro last season and has emerged as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL today. He piled up a staggering 15.5 sacks last season and was a dominant force inside for the Chiefs during the postseason.
The young star is set to play out the final season of his rookie contract and, without a new deal, would make just $1.19 million in 2019. With that in mind, if Kansas City truly wants to play hardball here, a protracted holdout could be on the table.