Panthers GM Dan Morgan provides update on potential Derrick Brown extension

Panthers GM Dan Morgan expressed some optimism about a potential contract extension for DT Derrick Brown.

Maybe the Carolina Panthers have themselves a standout defender who they can actually keep.

On Monday, the team’s president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan talked with reporters on a Zoom call from the NFL’s Annual League Meeting. When asked about defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is entering the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, he expressed some optimism about a potential contract extension.

“I’m not going to put any timetable on it; we have had some good discussions with his agent,” Morgan said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “But as of right now, we’re working through that, and hopefully, it ends up working out at the end, which I think it will.”

Brown is coming off the first Pro Bowl season of his NFL career. In fact, it was no ordinary all-star campaign—as the 25-year-old broke the all-time single-season record for tackles by a defensive lineman.

A few of Brown’s fellow interior linemen got their big paydays this offseason—including Kansas City’s Chris Jones, Las Vegas’ Christian Wilkins and Baltimore’s Justin Madubuike. Jones set the market at a $158 million pact, with Wilkins at $110 million and Madubuike at $98 million.

So, is Brown next?

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Chris Jones addresses fans after extension: ‘I will be retiring a Chief’

Chris Jones took to Twitter after signing his blockbuster extension, telling fans he will “Retire a Chief”

Chris Jones earned a massive contract extension from the Kansas City Chiefs over the weekend and had plenty to say to fans on social media after the deal was officially finalized.

Never one to shy away from the camera, Jones was seen in a video on the Chiefs’ official Twitter page sharing his excitement about the extension.

Check out his message to the Kansas City’s fans shortly after putting ink to his new contract:

Jones is among the league’s most accomplished defensive linemen and has been one of Kansas City’s most impactful players during the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl runs in the Patrick Mahomes era.

One of the NFL’s preeminent sack-masters, Jones has made a name for himself as a tenacious pass-rusher with the ability to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines with ease.

His return to Kansas City should prove to be a key factor in the Chiefs’ ability to compete for an ever-elusive Super Bowl three-peat next season.

Bengals impacted multiple ways with Chris Jones going back to Chiefs

Chris Jones is back in KC and it could impact things like DJ Reader for the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals won’t get a shot at superstar defender Chris Jones, not with the defensive tackle and the Kansas City Chiefs agreeing on a massive extension before free agency opens.

But it goes a little deeper than that.

Yes, Jones to the Bengals has been a fun theory for fans on social media. It wasn’t that outlandish that Jones might look at a contender such as Cincinnati if the Chiefs couldn’t make it work, either.

But more concerning now is how the interior defensive lineman market is shaping up. Jones going back to the Chiefs and Justin Madubuike getting a massive extension with the Baltimore Ravens leaves Cincinnati’s DJ Reader as one of the top left on the market.

Reader’s future with the Bengals was already complicated before these market developments because of the torn quad he suffered late last season — his second injury of that variety since joining the team.

When healthy, Reader is one of the best in the NFL, which would explain why the Bengals have already expressed an interest in bringing him back. But that injury outlook made it hard to see just what type of contract he’ll earn and if the Bengals will play ball.

Now, given the shape of the market, it might not matter. If another team panics and throws more cash at Reader despite the injury risk, the Bengals could be out the centerpiece of the defense and need to shift that to the top of the needs list.

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Chiefs’ Chris Jones will be first DT to eclipse Aaron Donald’s record $31.67M salary

Aaron Donald has led his position with a salary of $31.67 million, but Chris Jones is eclipsing him with his new deal

Aaron Donald has been the gold standard among defensive tackles for quite some time, and since 2022, he’s held the title of the highest-paid player at his position. After the Rams’ Super Bowl run, he signed a three-year deal worth $95 million, which averages out to $31.67 million per year.

No defensive tackle eclipsed that salary in the last two years, but that will change with Chris Jones’ new deal in Kansas City. While details of Jones’ deal are still being finalized, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that he will surpass Donald in annual salary.

It won’t be by much, however. Schefter says Jones will come in above Donald but below Nick Bosa, who averages $34 million per year. No defensive tackle has come close to Donald’s current contract, with Justin Madubuike’s new deal being the closest at $24.5 million.

Jones is deserving of every penny he gets, undoubtedly performing as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL for several years. When discussing the position, it’s typically between Donald and Jones as the best in the league.

Chris Jones instantly celebrated his record-breaking Chiefs contract after subtly hinting at it Saturday on social media

Chris Jones sounds like one happy guy.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones just got paid.

Jones confirmed on Saturday night that he signed a 5-year contract extension that reportedly makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that Jones’ new contract comes in at about $32 million a year and has $95 million guaranteed as part of the deal.

Jones took to Twitter to give a timeline of how the deal was progressing throughout the day on Saturday, finally exclaiming his joy that he had finally re-signed to stay with the Chiefs for another couple of Super Bowl runs.

He sounds very ready to help Kansas City accomplish the three-peat.

Jones sounds like a guy who loves where he is and is more than happy to stay there, as arguably the best defensive free agent is now off the board and set to run it back with the team that drafted him for another five seasons.

It’s a celebratory night for the Chiefs and bad news for the other 31 teams in the NFL.

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Chiefs, DL Chris Jones agree to massive 5-year extension with $95M guaranteed

The #Chiefs signed star defensive lineman Chris Jones to a massive five-year extension that reportedly guarantees him $95 million.

The Kansas City Chiefs and veteran defensive lineman Chris Jones reached agreement Saturday on a five-year contract that includes $95 million in guarantees.

The contract will keep Jones in Kansas City until he is 34 years old and clears the way for the Chiefs to keep their championship defense intact for another season.

Jones’ new deal was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

While the finer details of the move have yet to be announced, fans in Kansas City are sure to be excited that one of the Chiefs’ cornerstone players will be with the team for the foreseeable future.

Jones tallied 10.5 sacks in 2023, playing for Kansas City on the franchise tag after holding out through training camp, the preseason and the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss against the Detroit Lions.

With his new deal, Jones will be among the highest-paid players ever at the defensive tackle position and should be expected to continue producing elite numbers in Steve Spagnuolo’s system.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid gives update on Chris Jones’ free agency status

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave Rich Eisen an update on Chris Jones’ free agency status.

The Kansas City Chiefs could look very different next week as free agency begins, and several players could be on the move. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has maintained his stance of being hands-off on player negotiations, leaving trust in the front office, but even he can’t avoid the burning media questions.

Reid appeared on Thursday’s episode of The Rich Eisen Show to discuss several topics related to the thrilling Super Bowl LVIII victory. Eisen didn’t hesitate to ask about defensive tackle Chris Jones’s contract and possible free agency status.

“Not a whole lot (news to share),” Reid explained. “We’d love to have him back. Brett Veach and his gang are working through that. Chris Shea works with our cap and does the contracts. So, they’re all working through this thing. We’ve had great communication. So, we’ll just see where it goes from here.”

Jones posted another of his infamous cryptic messages on ‘X’ Thursday morning, shortly before Reid’s appearance on the show. Reid, who is not on any social media applications, didn’t understand the post and focused on the Chiefs front office staff’s chances of closing the deal.

 

“I’m hoping. I can’t give you anything because I don’t have a whole lot,” said Reid. “I’m doing all these media things, so maybe something is going better than I think it is.”

The Chiefs have been blunt about Jones’s re-signing, which is vital during the offseason. Many critics assume a deal will be done sooner rather than later, but Kansas City knows how serious the All-Pro defensive tackle is about getting a high-paying contract and doesn’t want a repeat of last year.

Did Chris Jones just tease that he will re-sign with the Chiefs?

Jones’ latest cryptic post on social media seems to be a signal that he might re-sign with the #Chiefs.

Chris Jones has been a cornerstone of the Kansas City Chiefs defense for years. He is set to become a free agent next week if the team can’t agree with him on a contract extension, but the star lineman’s latest post to Twitter may indicate that Jones is leaning toward re-signing in Kansas City.

Check out his cryptic tweet below to see his message:

While this tweet is far from concrete evidence that the Chiefs have a deal to keep Jones on their roster, it seems to signal that negotiations are progressing well.

Kansas City elected to use its franchise tag on defensive back L’Jarius Sneed after using it on Jones last year, so if no agreement is reached, the defensive lineman will hit the open market.

Nothing official has been reported by the Chiefs yet, but if this enigmatic post is any indication, Kansas City’s fans may get some good news about Jones’ contract situation in the coming days.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones responds to rumors that he will join the Raiders in free agency

Kansas City #Chiefs DT Chris Jones responded to rumors that he will join the Las Vegas #Raiders in free agency.

The free agency frenzy is underway with the official start less than a week away. The many scenarios regarding some top players, including Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, continue to be discussed.

The star defensive lineman responded to an article suggesting he would consider signing with AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders with a cryptic handshake emoji. Jones seemingly responded to an idea from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo during a roundtable discussion about the upcoming free agency period.

“Multiple teams in the AFC West need help on the defensive line; I’m just saying, the place where he played his last game as a Chief may be his first game as somebody,” said Garafolo, hinting at Allegiant Stadium’s NFL tenants. “I don’t know, I’m just saying. I dunno. Who knows. I’m just trying to find a way to not allude to the fact that it’s the (Las Vegas) Raiders I’m talking about.”

Jones has historically had fun with the media regarding his decision-making, so this can be a joke. Chiefs fans wouldn’t laugh if this became a reality and had to see a franchise favorite wearing silver and black next season.

Available free agent defensive linemen for the Broncos in 2024

The list of free agent defensive linemen available to the Broncos includes Shelby Harris and Calais Campbell.

The Denver Broncos are expected to beef up their defensive line this offseason after struggling to stop the run in 2023.

The most notable interior defensive lineman set to hit free agency this year is Chris Jones, but the Kansas City Chiefs will do everything they can to keep him. Even if KC did let Jones slip away, the Broncos probably wouldn’t be able to afford him.

Below, Denver fans will recognize the names of two budget options in Shelby Harris and Calais Campbell. Harris, of course, played for the Broncos from 2017-2021, and the team hosted him on a free-agent visit last year. Campbell was born and raised in Denver and he nearly signed with the Broncos in 2017.

Check out the full list of notable free agent defensive linemen below.