Chiefs, All-Pro DT agree to five-year deal with huge guarantee
All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones is staying put.
On Saturday night, Jones' agency, Katz Brothers Sports, announced an agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs, making the three-time Super Bowl champion the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal will pay Jones $95 million guaranteed.
One question that might immediately come to mind is: how will the Chiefs pay for Jones' mega-deal? According to Over the Cap, Kansas City has only $1.2 million in available cap space. However, general manager Brett Veach can quickly gain some breathing room in several ways.
A decision on cornerback L'Jarius Sneed's future, whether a trade or contract extension, would clear cap space. Likewise, a long-rumored reworking of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' deal could do the same, potentially saving the Chiefs $37 million.
Regardless of how the Chiefs create space for Jones' contract, it'll be worth it to keep arguably the best DT in the NFL around for the long haul.
For Jones, he's enjoying the spoils of betting on himself.
The 29-year-old held out of training camp last year and then sat out a Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions before agreeing to return for the year on a restructured deal. He'd go on to prove his worth to the Chiefs.
In 16 games, Jones racked up 10.5 sacks, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in another Super Bowl year for Kansas City. His big year all but secured the bag, which ultimately came on Saturday.
While Jones' signing is a win-win for both parties, it also takes the top-ranked defensive player off the market, essentially resetting things ahead of the NFL's legal tampering period (March 11) and the start of free agency on March 13.
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