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The Kansas City Chiefs have extended a specific contract offer their star defensive tackle Chris Jones as they navigate through their contract negotiations.
The Chiefs are determined to keep Jones in their roster but seem to be facing challenges in meeting his salary expectations for the upcoming season.
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, the Chiefs have offered Chris Jones a three-year deal worth $74 million in an effort to replace his existing contract, which was set to pay him a $19.5 million in 2023.
A significant portion of this proposed deal, precisely $70 million, would be guaranteed for injury, with a lower amount fully guaranteed, according to Florio.
While this offer demonstrates a substantial commitment on the part of the Chiefs, it falls short of the benchmark set by Los Angeles Rams’ defensive powerhouse Aaron Donald.
Donald signed a three-year, $95 million deal, setting a high standard for defensive tackles across the league. Consequently, it appears that Chris Jones is not aiming to match Donald’s deal but rather seeks a compromise.
Florio further reported that Chris Jones would consider accepting a three-year, $84.5 million deal, highlighting his willingness to meet the Chiefs halfway.
This proposed contract averages out to approximately $28.17 million per year, which is still notably lower than Aaron Donald’s $31.67 million annual earnings, illustrating Jones’s willingness to work with the team to reach a fair agreement.
In the midst of these negotiations, there have been reports suggesting that the Chiefs are ‘bracing’ themselves to be without All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones early in the 2023 season.
However, there is some optimism as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicates that there has been an “uptick” in recent negotiations between the two parties, potentially paving the way for a resolution before the start of the season.
Pass rush contracts with @garystriewski on @SportsCenter: Chris Jones, Nick Bosa and Brian Burns, who still isn’t close with the #Panthers on a new deal. pic.twitter.com/BIwK2Mt12e
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 2, 2023
The Chiefs remain determined to secure Chris Jones’s services for the long term. There’s no question Chris Jones makes a massive difference in that defense.
As #Chiefs Chris Jones continues his holdout, a look at his impact on KC's defense:
With Chris Jones on the field:
1st In the NFL QB Pressure %Without Chris Jones on the field:
28th In the NFL QB Pressure %* Over the past 5 seasons, via ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NpqKUrpDYV
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 1, 2023
As the 2023 season draws near, all eyes will be on Kansas City to see how this contract saga unfolds and whether a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached.