Chris Jones, a five-time All-Pro defensive tackle, and the Kansas City Chiefs have come to an agreement on a five-year contract with a $95 million guarantee, Jones’ agents confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday night.
Although the specifics are still being worked out, Jones will sign a five-year contract with a $95 million guarantee for the first three years of the deal. Jones’s average yearly compensation as a defensive lineman will be the highest if the contract is finalized, above that of defensive tackles Nick Bosa ($34 million), Aaron Donald ($31.6M), T.J. Watt ($28M), and Joey Bosa ($27M).
According to Roster Management System, Jones’ guaranteed $95 million would rank as the fourth-highest guaranteed sum for a defensive player on a current contract. Nick Bosa ($119.9M), Joey Bosa ($102M), and Myles Garrett ($102M) round out the top three.
Jones celebrated the agreement on social media, saying on X: “KC….5 more years of excellence! thrice”
Kansas City can retain their top defender before the start of free agency thanks to this action.
Jones, 29, and the Chiefs engaged in months-long discussions to the point where Jones skipped training camp and the opening game of the regular season against the Detroit Lions.
After returning on a one-year contract that had been changed, he finished the season with 10.5 sacks, was selected to the first team of the Pro Bowl, won his third Super Bowl, and is currently the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history based on average yearly income.
The Chiefs are looking to become the first NFL team in history to win three straight Super Bowls, and coach Andy Reid, tight end Travis Kelce, and wide out Julio Jones have returned to Kansas City despite the rumors surrounding all three of them.
Jones, a Mississippi State product selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, recorded a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2018. In 2022, he reached that total.
Jones has only tallied 2.5 sacks in 19 career postseason appearances. He can still have an impact on games, though. He recorded six pressures when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII last month, and he also batted down three passes in the Chiefs’ victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
Ahead of free agency, the Chiefs have been very active.
In the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected Jones, a product of Mississippi State, and in 2018 he recorded a career-high 15.5 sacks. He attained that total in 2022.
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In his 19 postseason games as a player, Jones has only recorded 2.5 sacks. Still, he can affect games in some way. In addition to recording six pressures during the Chiefs’ triumph over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII last month, he also swatted down three passes in Super Bowl LIV.
The Chiefs have been quite busy ahead of free agency.
