NFL Rumors: Chris Jones, Chiefs Not Close on New Contract Despite Recent Comments

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 15, 2024

Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chris Jones didn’t exactly make it a secret he wants to return to the Kansas City Chiefs, but there is reportedly still plenty of ground to cover as the star defensive lineman and team negotiate a new deal.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk cited a source who said such an agreement is expected “no time soon.”

The update comes after Jones yelled to the crowd during Wednesday’s Super Bowl rally, “I need three of those rings, baby. We ain’t done yet. We ain’t done yet. Kansas City, we will be back here next year. And for those who want Chris Jones, I ain’t going nowhere, baby!”

NFL @NFL”I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE, BABY!” – @StoneColdJones pic.twitter.com/qtU3Jmgq84

Florio noted Kansas City will first decide whether it wants to place the franchise tag on Jones, which would cost $32.16 million for a one-year deal. Doing so would also allow negotiations to continue without the fear he could leave for another team.

And it wouldn’t be a surprise if other teams were interested in him even with his comments made at the parade.

After all, Jones is a major reason the Chiefs have won three of the last five Super Bowls. He anchors the defense from the interior of the line and makes life much easier for his teammates because of the constant double teams he draws throughout games.

Even with those double teams, he still had 44 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery during the 2022 season and 30 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and four passes defended during the 2023 season.

He added two Lombardi Trophies during those seasons to a resume that includes three Super Bowl rings, five Pro Bowl selections and two First Team All-Pro nods.

One way to prevent the Chiefs from three-peating would be to sign away their best defensive player should he hit free agency. That may still be an unlikely outcome, but it was just at the start of the 2023 season when he chose the route of a contract holdout and missed the Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions.

That was quite the leverage play, as Kansas City saw what life would be like without him during that opening loss.

Telling the crowd you are coming back during the Super Bowl parade is the opposite of a leverage play, but such comments could ultimately be dismissed as being made in the heat of the moment when he is negotiating his next deal.

Even if that deal will likely be with the Chiefs, there is still some ground to cover.