Report: Chiefs Pro Bowl DT seeking lucrative extension amid training camp holdout

"Jones and the team—led by club owner Clark Hunt and general manager Brett Veach— are at a stalemate for now as Jones seeks an extension that will pay him an average annual salary of $30M," wrote Nate Taylor of The Athletic.

Jones, who is entering the final year of a four-year, $80M contract, wants that salary because it will make him the second-highest-paid DT in the league behind Los Angeles' Aaron Donald ($31.66M), via Spotrac. The play of the 29-year-old merits an extension, too. In 17 games last season, he tied for fourth in sacks with 15.5 and finished third in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The Chiefs aren't in a position to provide massive contract extensions, though. Per Spotrac, they're last in cap space ($71,267). Furthermore, Kansas City has avoided giving stars exorbitant deals. For example, in 2022, it traded Pro Bowl WR Tyreek Hill to Miami because the Chiefs didn't want to fulfill his salary demands.

However, Jones is the Chiefs' best defensive player and possesses more leverage. Despite incurring a $50K fine for every day he misses training camp, the DT knows holding out could make Kansas City cave.

Hunt expressed how he admires Jones but wants him to report to training camp. "We love Chris, and when he decides to report, we'll welcome him," Hunt said on Sunday, via Jesse Newell of The Kansas City Star. "I don't want to get into speculating on when that'll happen or if it will happen."

The Chiefs should quickly end the holdout and find a way to pay Jones. Although it stretches their budget, the four-time Pro Bowler could help the defending champions win more Super Bowls.