The Kansas City Chiefs, reigning Super Bowl champions, and standout player Chris Jones have reached a preliminary agreement on a five-year contract, securing the All-Pro defensive tackle with $95 million guaranteed and preventing him from entering free agency, according to an anonymous source familiar with the deal. While the contract details are still being finalized, it is expected that the guaranteed money will be distributed over the initial three years, leaving the last two years non-guaranteed.
Turning 30 in July, Jones now stands among the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history, trailing just behind San Francisco’s Nick Bosa, who earns an average annual salary of $34 million. This deal surpasses the previous benchmark set by Rams defensive end Aaron Donald, whose average was $31.6 million.
Jones’ agents, Michael and Jason Katz, celebrated the news on social media, hailing their client as the “highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.” Jones himself expressed his excitement on Twitter, proclaiming “5 more years of greatness! 3x.”
After the Chiefs secured their Super Bowl victory against the 49ers, Jones was vocal about his desire to pursue a three-peat. However, reaching an agreement with Kansas City proved challenging in previous offseasons. Jones even skipped the entire offseason program and part of the regular season in the final year of his previous contract, accumulating significant fines before agreeing to an incentive-laden one-year deal.
Throughout the past season, Jones demonstrated his worth by starting every game and contributing crucial plays, including the sack needed to trigger a bonus in his contract. The Chiefs have been proactive in retaining key defensive players, using the franchise tag on L’Jarius Sneed and signing linebacker Drue Tranquill to a three-year deal earlier in the week.
Jones, a formidable force drafted by the Chiefs in 2016, has consistently been a game-changer, earning All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections. His stellar performance made retaining him a top priority for the Chiefs as they approach the upcoming free agency period.
