The Kansas City Chiefs and five-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones have reached an agreement on a five-year deal that includes $95 million guaranteed, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday night.
Specific details are still being finalized, but Jones will sign a five-year contract in which all money – $95 million – in the first three years is guaranteed. Once the contract is signed, Jones will have the highest average annual salary ever for a defensive tackle, surpassing Nick Bosa ($34 million), Aaron Donald ($31.6 million), TJ Watt ($28 million) and Joey Bosa ($27 million). ,
According to the roster management system, Jones’ guaranteed $95 million would be the fourth-highest guaranteed money for a defensive player on a current contract. The top three are Nick Bosa ($119.9 million), Joey Bosa ($102 million) and Myles Garrett ($102 million).
Jones took to social media to celebrate the deal, write on x: “KC…5 more years of greatness! 3x”
The move allows Kansas City to keep their best guard before free agency begins.
The 29-year-old Jones negotiated with the Chiefs for months, to the extent that he sat out training camp last year and missed the first game of the regular season against the Detroit Lions.
He came back on a modified one-year deal, totaled 10.5 sacks on the season, was named First-Team All-Pro, won his third Super Bowl and is now the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history based on average annual salary. The tackle has been made.
Despite speculation surrounding all three, coach Andy Reid, tight end Travis Kelce and Jones are now back in Kansas City as the Chiefs aim to become the first NFL team in history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
Jones, the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick in 2016 out of Mississippi State, had a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2018. He equaled that total in 2022.
In 19 career playoff games, Jones has only 2.5 sacks. But he’s still able to make an impact on games. He threw three passes in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers and had six pressures when the Chiefs beat the 49ers again in Super Bowl LVIII last month.
The Chiefs have been busy ahead of free agency.
They used the nonexclusive tag on L’Jarius Sneed, allowing the cornerback to talk to other teams, who could then trade him to the Chiefs. They also signed pending free agent linebacker Drew Tranquill to a three-year, $19 million deal that includes $13 million fully guaranteed.
ESPN’s Adam Teicher contributed to this report.
