Feb 14, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) addresses the crowd on stage with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Chris Jones, Chiefs Agree to Long-Term Contract

Originally posted on Kansas City Chiefs on SI
By Jordan Foote | Last updated Mar 9, 2024 10:45 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs came into the 2024 offseason with two main priorities. At the top of the list was figuring out the long-term status of star defensive tackle Chris Jones. With just days until the start of the legal tampering period and free agency, they've done just that.

Jones isn't going anywhere. Per a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, as well as others, Kansas City and Jones have agreed to terms on a lucrative contract to keep him in a Chiefs uniform.

"Chiefs and five-time Pro-Bowl DT Chris Jones reached agreement on a record 5-year deal that includes $95 million guaranteed and allows KC to keep its best defender before free agency begins, per his agents, @KatzBrosSports," Schefter wrote. "Deal is expected to be the highest average salary ever given to an NFL defensive tackle."

Chiefs and five-time Pro-Bowl DT Chris Jones reached agreement on a record 5-year deal that includes $95 million guaranteed and allows KC to keep its best defender before free agency begins, per his agents, @KatzBrosSports.

Deal is expected to be the highest average salary ever… pic.twitter.com/aRidQ0309z
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2024

It's certainly been a long time coming for Jones and the Chiefs. Last offseason, despite having a year remaining on his deal, he held out during the summer and into the first week of the regular season. Returning on a new one-year contract for Week 2, he logged 10.5 sacks in 16 regular-season games and notched an All-Pro nod for the second year in a row. He then recorded six quarterback hits and half-sack during the club's run to another world championship.

Speaking to James Palmer of NFL Network at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was optimistic about striking a deal.

"We have a great deal of respect for his agents and, obviously, we have a great deal of respect for Chris," Veach said. "I think our goal and intentions were to get something done last year. We weren't able to get it done — we hit a little rough patch there the week of that Detroit game — but give him and his crew a ton of credit because we met right after that game and had a great conversation. We talked about some of the things in how this may all play out, so here we are. I think to your point, we have that kind of backlog of dialogue that we've shared. Listen, we're cautiously optimistic. He's a great player and these things are never easy, but we're going to certainly put our best foot forward and try to get something done."