ESPN reporter Dianna Russini made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday and gave a thorough update on Chris Jones’ contract negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I had a conversation with someone this morning that’s involved in negotiations — they still feel really optimistic [that] they are going to get it done,” Russini said. “The number Chris Jones wants is — it’s a big number, it’s a big number.”
Although Jones’ asking price is steep, Russini made it clear that her sources within the Chiefs organization were optimistic that a deal will eventually get done.
“Every conversation I have had with [Chiefs sources] over the last few months has been nothing but – understanding his value, understanding his role on this team, we want to get this done, we feel good we are going to get this done, we are optimistic,” Russini continued. “That’s one of those where I think it feels a little icky right now, but I think it’s going to work out by the time we get to at least the third, fourth week of camp here.”
Kansas City had its ring ceremony in June, and many people inside the organization were confident that Jones would be present for the celebratory occasion. However, he wasn’t, and Russini said that his absence was a surprise for his coaches and teammates.
“Going back to the ring [ceremony] I attended with the Chiefs a few months ago, and talking to them, they were like, ‘We will get it done’, Andy [Reid] was like ‘Chris will show up’, and then he didn’t show up,” Russini explained. “That threw a wrench. They weren’t expecting him not to show up. That’s where it did get a little off track.”
Russini still feels that everyone involved wants to get a long-term deal done before the season starts.
“The sense I get, it will get done, Chris wants to be there, they want Chris there,” Russini said. “Look, could it go off track? Yeah, of course. We have seen it happen.”
Jones is under contract this season with a $28 million price tag, which is enough to make him the second-highest-paid player on Kansas City’s roster. With an extension, that price would come down a bit and open up some cap space. The Chiefs have the second-least cap space in the league with just $562,000.
The most important thing for both sides at this juncture, though, is that a contract extension is finalized before the season. Neither party will benefit if Jones misses time as Kansas City looks to defend its Super Bowl title.