The Chiefs’ title defense begins on Thursday, but it remains to be seen if they will have Chris Jones available for Week 1 or any point early in the campaign. Plenty of progress still needs to be made for an agreement to be reached between team and player in this situation. 
Jones, who has one year remaining on his current pact and is due a base salary of $19.5MM in 2023, has been absent from the team throughout the offseason. That has resulted in a major accumulation of fines during the summer and the chance of just over $1MM in missed game checks per week if he continues to hold out. Jones, 29, has previously suggested he is willing to remain on the sidelines until Week 8, the latest point at which he can return to the field with a year of service time accruing.
Talks on an new deal have have ramped up recently, and the team remains confident that one will be worked out to some point. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports, however, the sides are still at an impasse and Jones is therefore absent for today’s practice. That points further to the the All-Pro being sidelined for the season opener and adding to his financial penalties. Jones has already racked up approximately $2MM in fines and missed out on a $500K workout bonus, and little clarity exists with respect to when he will be back in the fold.
Confirming the uncertainty on the team’s part, head coach Andy Reid said, “You’re never sure how it’s going to work out. You deal with too many people in this type of thing. These things can go any direction. I don’t want to spend too much time on it. We had 90 guys in the offseason that I was making sure were going in the right direction, and now we’re getting ready to play a game. That’s how I go about it” (h/t Dave Skretta of the Associated Press).
Jones has been seeking a deal similar (if not larger) in value to Aaron Donald‘s market-resetting extension signed last offseason. The $31.67MM AAV of that pact comfortably exceeds what the numerous extension-eligible DTs landed in recent months on their own deals, and the Chiefs are reportedly willing to offer Jones a contract which would place him in the vicinity of the other second-tier earners at the position. The four-time Pro Bowler, by contrast, is thought to be seeking a deal putting him behind only Donald in the pecking order.
In an informative breakdown of the situation, Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald details the fact that the value of extension offers depend on whether or not they are viewed through the lens of new money or strictly total compensation including what is already owed. In Jones’ case, the former approach (which is standard in the NFL) yields an AAV of $27.5MM regarding the Chiefs’ reported three-year offer and a figure of $32.5MM per year with respect to the counter-offer of the same length.
Kansas City’s defense will look much different on the interior presuming Jones does indeed miss regular season action in 2023. Time has likely run out for Week 1 participation at this point, but his negotiations on an extension will no doubt remain a talking point well after Thursday’s contest if no deal is reached.
Are any teams looking into trading for him?
The NFC South looks like a division up for grabs and Jones could tip the scales favorably for one of those teams but I think the Chiefs will probably restructure some current deals to retain him.
Why give a guy on the downswing of his career that much money? Hes fast approaching 30 He’s looking for money that would cripple the chiefs salary cap. SMH.
Jones is out of his mind if he thinks he’s worth Aaron Donald money. Donald in his prime was a much better player and the Rams gave him that huge deal to keep him from retiring. Jones is cutting off his nose to spite his face.
If you don’t think Jones isn’t every bit or better than Donald you haven’t watched Jones very close. His 6’6 frame disrupts or blocks down any pass over the middle he has to be triple teamed. His sacks are off the charts for a DT. He’s unreal
Lol. Yes he is a beast. Better than Donald? Ok Homer.
Lol. Yes, Jones is a beast. Better than Donald? OK Homer. Derp.
Lol. Yes, Jones is a beast. Better than Donald?
OK Homer. Derp.
Echo
Echo
Echo
I think Jones should hold out the entire season. If KC then wins another SB the GM will then realize that ‘paying big bucks doesn’t equate to champions’ and maybe prices could go down.
Inflation seems to be rampant and putting a pinch on everyone everywhere except the nfl and nba
The owners will then lower ticket prices and redo their TV contracts to give money back. They will then offer to pay a bigger percentage of their new stadiums and upgrades thus saving the taxpayers money
You on the same drugs as me?
Didn’t realize what a comedian Chris Jones was. Aaron Donald money, no way. You already signed a contract meathead, honor that and move on. Always makes me laugh when these guys agree to a contract and then in year three they want to negotiate. You signed a contract and agreed to play for X amount, it didn’t say unless you become a better player then you can renegotiate. If he stinks up the stadium will he agree to refund KC some cash? Mahomes and Kelce are not replaceable, but Chris Jones is. Here’s an idea, maybe Chris can take that degree he got in college and get a REAL job that pays 50-100 grand a year and find out what it’s like for the rest of us out here in the heartland.
To be fair though teams also release players before honoring the entirety of the contract they offered so it works both ways in the NFL.
If you don’t do your job, you get fired. If they’re under contract they still get paid.
They actually don’t. Not the full money. Just the guaranteed money.
Poor guy being forced to play for that peasant contract he agreed to. Brett Veach is one of the best in the business and knows what he’s doing, I’m sure Jones will blink first.
YO Chris don’t back down. Don’t let Kelce tell you what to do. You’ve earned a BIG raise. Make the cheapskates pay.
People who call someone already paying a player over 1 mil a game a cheapskate, don’t understand math.
I’ve always said,” If they feel they’re being exploited or are afraid of being hurt the player can always get a job using the degree they earned in college”.
If they actually acquired a degree. If not then hopefully they’ve enough funds to go back to school
And owners can always sell their team if they can’t afford it
One can always hope
Come on, you and I both know that millions of dollars for playing a game is ridiculous. I believe there should be a hard and fast salary cap on what players can earn as well as a cap on what owners can earn. Maybe then the ridiculous prices for seat licenses, food, etc may come down. It’s sad when a man can’t take his family to a game without a second mortgage on his home. If the NFL shuts down tomorrow we would miss it, but how much would it really affect our day to day life?
Do you really think the owners are ever going to lower prices even if salaries dropped? Every business tries to increase profits every year and football teams are no different. Do you think Walmart is content making the 11 billion they made last year?
NFL will never get less expensive! The cartel has grown fat on greed and will never back up as long as millions will give up hours to sit in front of a hypnotic rectangular display and be mesmerized by a distraction from reality.
No I don’t have a tv or nfl viewing in these mountains, I’m just a controversial stirrer
But you make sense.