Chris Jones is joining a select group of players to avoid mandatory minicamp. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle is not at the defending Super Bowl champions’ workout Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The defensive tackle market has moved significantly since Jones signed his four-year, $80M deal during the 2020 offseason. The former franchise tag recipient remains on the extension radar for the Chiefs, per Schefter, but he is staying away from the team for the time being. No guaranteed money remains on Jones’ contract.
Aaron Donald leads all non-quarterbacks with a $31.7M-per-year average, while D-tackles younger and less accomplished than Jones — Daron Payne, Dexter Lawrence and Jeffery Simmons — have agreed to terms on accords north of Jones’ $20M-AAV pact. Serving as the Chiefs’ top pass rusher for most of his career, Jones has been linked to a third Chiefs contract this offseason. Ahead of his age-29 season, Kansas City’s D-line anchor will likely aim for a deal in the Donald range.
Three years ago, the Chiefs agreed to team-friendly deals with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and fit a top-market Jones extension into their offseason. The above-referenced accords, along with the Giants’ 2021 deal for Leonard Williams and recent 49ers agreement with Javon Hargrave, now eclipse Jones’ pact. Considering Jones’ current form and importance to the Chiefs, he certainly has a case to approach Donald’s terms or land a more traditional contract well north of the Simmons-Payne-Lawrence range.
The Chiefs’ single-season sack record holder, Jones earned his initial First-Team All-Pro honor last season by matching his career high (15.5 sacks). Twice a Second-Team All-Pro as well, Jones has spearheaded a Chiefs defense that could not rely on Frank Clark for consistency. The Chiefs have since moved on from Clark, leaving 2022 first-rounders George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah and UFA addition Charles Omenihu in charge of edge production. Jones has masked the Chiefs’ issues on the edge for years, becoming one of this era’s best interior pass rushers.
The 2020 CBA has effectively curbed training camp holdouts, limiting contract-seeking players’ options. This has made the hold-in tactic increasingly popular. Absent a deal by the time the Chiefs report to training camp, Jones taking this route would not surprise. Withholding his services would damage a Chiefs team that has relied on him for most of his career.
A Jones extension would also help the Chiefs, who have him tied to a $28.3M cap number in 2023. Kansas City is also potentially looking at a tricky Mahomes restructure, though the quarterback has been careful not to make a public demand for his unique deal to be redone. With Mahomes signed through 2031, the Jones matter looks to be the Chiefs’ most pressing contract issue.
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