The Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, have reached an agreement with star player Chris Jones on the framework of a five-year contract. The deal includes an impressive $95 million guaranteed, ensuring the All-Pro defensive tackle remains with the team and is kept off the upcoming free-agent market.
This information was disclosed by a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press late Saturday.
The source, who requested anonymity as the contract details were still being finalized, revealed that the guaranteed money is expected to be distributed over the first three years, with the remaining two years not guaranteed.
At 30 years old in July, Jones now stands among the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history. His contract falls just shy of the $34 million average annual salary earned by San Francisco pass rusher Nick Bosa. This deal surpasses the $31.6 million average of Rams defensive end Aaron Donald, who had long set the financial benchmark for defensive players.
In a tweet, Jones’ agents, Michael and Jason Katz, extended their congratulations to their client, hailing him as “the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.”
Jones himself took to Twitter moments later, expressing his enthusiasm for the future with the Chiefs: “KC….5 more years of greatness! 3x” Jones had made clear his desire to pursue a three-peat immediately after the Chiefs clinched their second consecutive Super Bowl victory last month in Las Vegas.
However, securing the agreement to stay in Kansas City had proven challenging over the past two offseasons.
Negotiations between Jones and the Chiefs were so strained entering the final year of his previous contract that he chose to skip the entire offseason program, including mandatory minicamp and training camp, as well as Week 1 of the regular season. It wasn’t until later in the season that Jones returned to the field under an incentive-laden one-year deal.
Responding to this opportunity, Jones started every subsequent game, including a significant regular-season finale against the Chargers, where he secured the sack needed to reach 10 1/2 for the season, triggering a $1.25 million bonus.
Throughout the postseason, Jones continued to make impactful contributions. He played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ road victories over Buffalo and Baltimore, propelling the team back to the Super Bowl. In the championship game, Kansas City overcame an early deficit to secure victory in overtime, with Patrick Mahomes connecting with Mecole Hardman for the winning touchdown.
The Chiefs have demonstrated their commitment to maintaining the core of their formidable defense for the upcoming season. Earlier in the week, they utilized the franchise tag on L’Jarius Sneed and secured linebacker Drue Tranquill to a multi-year deal, ensuring key components remain in place as they pursue further success.
