Chris Jones’ new contract: Decoding the DT’s astonishing $158.75M deal

The 29-year-old Chris Jones will earn $31.8 million annually.

Chris Jones’ new contract: Decoding the DT’s astonishing $158.75M deal

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (Image via IMAGO)

Four weeks after winning his second Super Bowl ring, Chris Jones signed a five-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. As a result, Jones became the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league.

ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reported that Jones signed a 5-year, $158.8 million deal that will keep him at the Arrowhead until 2028 with an annual salary of $31.8 million. This made Jones just ahead of Aaron Donald of the Rams. Donald makes around $31.65 million on a three-year $95 million contract, which he signed in 2022.

Jones announced the extension of his stay in Missouri through an X post. He wrote:

FS Video
KC... 5 more years of greatness! 3x
Chris Jones on X

This deal helped keep the Chiefs D-line intact, which is music to quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ ears. It also ensures salary cap flexibility for the future, because there are several other key players they would love to keep around. 

Chris Jones’ new Chiefs contract breakdown

Fortunately for Chiefs fans, the negotiations were swift, unlike last year. Both parties were locked in an intense debate over the sufficient amount. In the end, the 29-year-old put pen to paper on a one-year contract, but by then, the Chiefs had already played their first game of the season. Jones came back and recorded 10.5 sacks and made it onto the First Team All-Pro list.

Chris Jones' new contract: Decoding the DT's astonishing $158.75M deal
Chris Jones (Image via IMAGO)

He deservedly received the result of his hard work with a long-term deal. According to Over the Cap, Jones’ salary breakdown is as follows:

  • Base Salary (2024): $1.25 million
  • Signing bonus: $30 million (he is due $18 million by April 4, 2024, and $12 million on April 5, 2025).
  • Workout bonus (2024): $100,000 million
  • Guaranteed base salary (2024): $1.25 million 

Jones’ salary only covers 2.9% of the Chiefs salary cap. Moreover, they can easily restructure the deal further down the line for more flexibility. His cap hit will see an increase of $34.85 million as he will bag the rest of the signing bonus in April 2025.

That’s just one player down, but general manager Brett Veach still has the big fish to take care of. Over the Cap details that Mahomes will have a $58.6 cap hit, which occupies most of the Chiefs salary cap space. They can easily restructure it by converting part of the hit to a bonus.

Apart from Mahomes, L’Jarius Sneed also requires attention. The cornerback was franchise-tagged, which will earn him $19.8 million to play the next season. Veach can give Sneed a long-term deal or trade him to another franchise.

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