Chris Jones is staying put with the Super Bowl champs.
Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms on a five-year, $158.75 million deal with $101 million in guarantees, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per Jones’ agents Katz Brothers Sports.
Jones, who in the eyes of some has surpassed Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald as the league’s top interior defensive lineman, was just a few days away from hitting the open market, but the Chiefs are bringing back their game-changing defender for a run at a three-peat.
It’s perhaps no accident that Jones’ extension comes after the Baltimore Ravens and defensive lineman Justin Madubuike agreed to a massive deal.
Jones’ deal makes him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackle at $31.75 million per year, Rapoport reported. That is higher than Donald, who is currently making $31.6 million a year, per Over the Cap.
Jones, Gregg Rosenthal’s No. 1 free agent, has never shied away from stating that he wanted to stick with the Chiefs and general manager Brett Veach said as recently as the NFL Scouting Combine that re-signing his dynamic DL was “at the top” of his priority list.
Now, it’s come to fruition.
Jones, 29, is a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion. He’s recorded back-to-back double-digit-sack seasons and has a penchant for coming up clutch in big games — which are commonplace for KC.
An offseason ago, Jones was also looking for a long-term re-up with the Chiefs but instead held out until a new one-year deal was worked out. Hence, while Jones and the Chiefs experienced Super Bowl success once again, another impending contract situation always loomed.
Jones held out through a Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions this season, but in 2024, he’s poised to be on the field for the Chiefs’ season opener, smiling wide with a lucrative new contract.
