The Kansas City Chiefs brass remains hopeful that the team will be able to extend the contract of defensive lineman Chris Jones.
Jones is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2019 season. He joined the Chiefs as a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft out of Mississippi State University. Jones spent a portion of the 2019 offseason holding out in hopes of coming to an agreement with the team on a contract extension, but he ended his holdout before training camp and has played out this final season.
On Wednesday, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt confirmed that the team is engaged in continuous discussions regarding an extension for Jones with his agents the Katz Brothers.
“There have been ongoing discussions with Chris’ representatives,” Hunt said. “As I mentioned in the preseason, we are very hopeful that we can extend Chris’ contract and bring him back to Kansas City for many years to come. He is obviously a fantastic player, a great guy in the locker room and we’re glad to have him a part of the Chiefs.”
The question remains whether both sides will be able to come to an agreement on an extension. The two sides didn’t appear to be close to an agreement ahead of the 2019 season. This was the statement released by his agents at the onset of training camp:
“He knows his value and if he has to play out his deal in order to reach free agency, then that’s what he will do. For now, he’s focused on winning a Super Bowl for Kansas City.”
Jones is only gaining leverage in contract negotiations as his role expands beyond simply playing the defensive tackle position. With an injury to defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, Jones will be tasked with playing more defensive end. Interior players tend to be valued less than those that can provide pressure off the edge.
“Yeah, it will be a little back and forth,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said of Jones’ role on Friday. “He’ll probably end up playing both for us now.”
Jones has missed some time with a groin injury and his numbers are down from the 2018 season, where he set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss, pressures and sacks. The Chiefs haven’t seen a decline in his play in 2019. Hunt, in particular, has come away impressed with Jones.
“Absolutely, I think that he has played extremely well,” Hunt said. “He has transitioned to the new defensive scheme, I think, very well, and has been a part of the success that we have had in improving the defense.”
How Jones and the defense finish out the season in Kansas City is perhaps the most important factor in the Chiefs’ decision to retain Jones.