Chris Jones comment about looming extension will pump up Chiefs fans

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones is entering the final year of his current contract. He’d prefer not to play for another franchise.

Chris Jones is an elite defensive end, having racked up 15.5 sacks this past season. He played a vital role in Kansas City’s Super Bowl run, including making Jalen Hurts’ night a little tougher in the Chiefs eventual win over Philadelphia.

While Jones will make $19.5 million this coming season on his current deal, a long-term extension could be on the horizon. Jones carries a high cap hit, and playing on an expiring contract brings with it a lot of risk. An extension makes sense for both sides.

When asked about said contract talks, Jones made it very clear on social media that he doesn’t want to go anywhere.

Chiefs rumors: Will Kansas City extend Chris Jones?

Brett Veach commented on the possibility of re-signing Frank Clark and extending Jones just a week ago.

“The good thing for us is that we have these strong connections with these players that have played here a long time,” Veach said, per The Athletic. “They love being here. That’s a good starting point for us. The bonds that we have with these players, and the fact that we have a long track record with them, helps us buy more time.”

Jones had his best season to date in 2022. Lowering his overall cap hit would help the team in the short-term. Jones turns 29 in July and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.

Spotrac estimates that a player like Jones would be worth up to $30 million on the open market, if he reaches that point next offseason. His cap hit this offseason is $28 million. An extension in the neighborhood of $30 million per year would be similar to that which Aaron Donald received after his team won the Super Bowl.