After Friday’s news about the salary cap, the Kansas City Chiefs’ procrastination to extend Chris Jones long-term will hurt their bottom line.
Jones, who is set to enter free agency in March if he’s not extended before, expressed his desire to stay in Kansas City to compete for the threepeat.
However, it was reported following the Super Bowl that the Chiefs were nowhere close to inking Jones into a long-term deal.
Jones wanted to be paid similarly to Aaron Donald’s $31 million yearly.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) warms up before Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Jones wanted Aaron Donald money
Dec 10, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Former NFL agent Joel Corry wrote on Feb. 7 about what deal Jones should expect from the Chiefs this offseason. Corry thought Jones could hit the $30 million mark:
Jones would be justified in targeting the midpoint of [Nick] Bosa and [Aaron} Donald’s contracts. The duo signed deals for $265 million collectively totaling eight years to average $33.125 million per year.
This would put Jones’ target price at $132.5 million over four years. Seeking $72.5 million fully guaranteed the first two years, where there are $90 million in overall guarantees, would be in line for this type of contract.
Whether Jones hits my suggested target price remains to be seen. He should ultimately join Bosa and Donald as the only defensive players in the $30 million-per-year club whether with a new team in free agency or by remaining in Kansas City.
Corry based those figures on the NFL’s salary cap, which is around $240-45 for the 2024 season.
The NFL’s salary cap went boom
Feb 12, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the Super Bowl Host Committee Handoff press conference at the Super Bowl LVIII media center at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
But the salary cap shattered that mark on Friday. Per Adam Schefter with ESPN, the new cap will be set at $255.4 million.
The Kansas City Chiefs cost themselves in procrastination
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) pursues San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jones’ asking price just went up for the Kansas City Chiefs. One could see him arguing for a salary north of what Donald is making per year based on the new salary cap.
Because it would cost more than Donald’s annual salary for the Chiefs to franchise tag Jones, Kansas City is not expected to apply the tag this offseason. The Chiefs will either need to for over a hefty long-term deal or watch him test the market in free agency and likely leave for the Detroit Lions in March.
The Chiefs could have saved money and a headache with their cap situation this offseason by signing Jones earlier before the NFL released the new salary cap figure for the 2024 season. Jones will want his percentage of the pie to match the cap increase.
And he would. Besides Patrick Mahomes, Jones has been one of the Chiefs biggest game-changers during the back-to-back title run. He stopped the San Francisco 49ers from scoring multiple touchdowns in this year’s Super Bowl.
The threepeat could hinge on the Chiefs’ decision with Jones.
