The Kansas City Chiefs have assembled a two-time Super Bowl champion that is perennially one of the best teams in the NFL. However, the NFL salary cap and a high asking price could push away one of their best players in 2024.
While the Chiefs are near the top of the NFL standings heading into Week 11, the success is largely tied to their defense. Kansas City has experienced red-zone woes and turnover issues in 2023, resulting in alarming regression from their offense as they attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
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- Chris Jones stats (2022-’23): 42 QB hits, 22 tackles for loss, 21 sacks in 25 games
The Chiefs’ front office has focused on building this defense in recent years. Despite being one of the youngest units in the NFL, Kansas City has been one of the most productive and consistent defenses since the second half of the 2022 season.
Trent McDuffie, the former first-round pick, is becoming one of the best cornerbacks in the AFC. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ linebacker corps has emerged as one of the best in the NFL. Of course, All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones is the centerpiece of it all and his play over the last 18-plus games has been critical to the defense’s success. However, his days in Kansas City may be numbered.
- Chris Jones contract: $26.808 million cap hit in 2023, 2024 NFL free agents
According to Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen of ESPN, Jones “could flirt with” a multi-year deal this offseason worth around $30 million per year. It would instantly make him one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history.
Jones, unsatisfied with his contract, sat out all of training camp and held out the Week 1 opener against the Detroit Lions. The decision didn’t land him a multi-year extension, but Kansas City altered his contract with new incentives.
Chris Jones contract incentives 2023
- 35% of snaps played: $1 million bonus
- 50% of snaps played: $1 million bonus
- 10 sacks: $1.25 million bonus
- 15 sacks: $500,000 bonus
- 1st Team All-Pro + SB appearance: $1 million bonus
- Defensive Player of the Year + Super Bowl win: $2 million bonus
Related: NFL defense rankings
The 29-year-old defensive lineman is on pace to earn at least $3.25 million of those bonuses, which would be tacked onto his 2023 salary. In that scenario, he would be making more than $28 million this season.
It would have significant ramifications for the Chiefs’ front office. If Kansas City wanted to apply the franchise tag on Jones, it would cost them upwards of $32 million. While it would only be a one-year deal, the contract is fully guaranteed and would carry a $32 million cap hit.
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For an organization that is extremely tight with long-term cap space, that could open the door for Jones to test free agency. Entering his age-30 season, Jones has proven to be one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL and he’ll likely receive multi-year deals worth $30-plus million per season if he hits the open market.