[Report] Chris Jones Wants Around $21 Million Annually On Next Contract

The Kansas City Chiefs will have to get creative in fitting superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones under their salary cap if they hope to retain him long-term.

Jones was handed the franchise tag by the Chiefs this offseason. Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com explained that Jones wanted similar money to what teammate Frank Clark earned from the Chiefs last season - a five-year, $105.5 million deal with $63.5 million guaranteed.

Chadiha explained that Jones "has every right to want a deal in the average salary range of $21 million."

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound defensive tackle posted nine sacks for the Chiefs in 2019; he had a career-best 15.5 the year before. Jones and Clark helped the Kansas City defense improve mightily in 2019, leading the team to a Super Bowl LIV championship over the San Francisco 49ers.

Talk to any general manager in football, and they'll stress the important of keeping the core players together. But the cap-strapped Chiefs already had to work out a new deal with receiver Sammy Watkins, and Patrick Mahomes is expected to sign a record-setting extension soon.

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Per Spotrac.com, Jones is slated to make $16.126 million in total cash for the 2020 season, fourth most among defensive tackles behind DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts ($23.378 million), D.J. Reader of the Cincinnati Bengals ($22.25 million) and Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams ($17 million).

The Chiefs have Clark, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce all signed to long-term deals. Pro Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu has two years remaining on his contract. After picking up Mahomes' fifth-year option, Kansas City has Mahomes under contract through the 2021 season.

When the Chiefs eventually extend Mahomes, they'll be right up against the cap. Keeping Jones on a long-term pact is easier said than done, and if the front office believes they can replace his talents, it wouldn't be a surprise if Jones was traded. But Kansas City's best bet may to keep Jones for 2020 as they look to defend their Super Bowl championship. We'll just have to see how it all plays out.

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