Chiefs DT makes brash prediction for next season

That's a bold guarantee because Jones will face stiff competition. Per OddsChecker, the DT has the ninth-best odds of winning the award behind stars such as San Francisco's Nick Bosa, Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt and Dallas' Micah Parsons.

 
However, the 28-year-old had a career year last season. In 17 games, Jones tied for the the league's fourth-most sacks (15.5) and the seventh-most tackles for loss (17). He also earned a first-team All-Pro nod and finished third in DPOY voting behind Parsons and Bosa. So he could build off the monumental season and increase his chances.

Plus, he might have extra motivation since he's entering the final year of his contract and seeking a massive deal. Nate Taylor of The Athletic reported Jones wants to become at least the second-highest-paid DT in the league behind Los Angeles' Aaron Donald, who makes $31.7M annually via OverTheCap. 

Even though Chiefs GM Brett Veach recently said a Jones extension is "on the list of things to do," both parties haven't reached an agreement yet. Per Spotrac, Jones' market value is a four-year deal worth $32.2M annually. The Chiefs are last in cap space ($859K) via Sportac, which might be why they're dragging out negotiations.

Regardless of whether he receives a new deal, Jones is betting on himself and wants to prove he's one of the best defensive players in the NFL.

 
In 2022, Jones correctly predicted that the Chiefs would make Super Bowl LVII. Perhaps, he's made another accurate guess and is a DPOY dark horse.