As the contract crisis between the Chiefs and defensive tackle Chris Jones continues, there are a few things circulating in the media that have misrepresented Jones’ expectations.
In response to an article claiming that Jones is trying to undercut Aaron Donald’s contract ($31.67 million per year) and that the Chiefs are sensible but Jones is not, our journalist hats are off set up and discovered the truth.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the Chiefs have offered to replace the $19.5 million Jones is scheduled to make in 2023 with $74 million over the next three years. Of that amount, $70 million would be guaranteed for injuries, with a lesser amount being fully guaranteed.
That’s an average of $24.67 million and $7 million per year less than the Donald deal. We’re told Jones isn’t trying to get Donald’s number. In fact, he would split the difference.
The midpoint between the team’s offer and the Donald deal is $28.17 million.
In other words, instead of $95 million over three years (the Donald deal), Jones would make $84.5 million over three years. The Chiefs, in turn, have a profit of $74 million in three years.
The problem for Jones was the accumulation of contracts the defensive tackles signed this offseason, ranging from $22.5 million to $23.5 million. The Chiefs have tried to keep Jones around that general area. Jones has set his sights higher. And while the Donald deal has justified Jones’ ambitions, Jones isn’t trying to match or beat Donald.
The clock is ticking on all of this. While there is no specific deadline for the deal to be completed, the final deadline is Thursday night when the Chiefs host the Lions. The sooner something gets done, the more likely it is that Jones will be ready to play by the start of the regular season.