The standoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and star defensive tackle Chris Jones is beginning to get perilous. Entering the final week of training camp, there has seemingly been no movement on a new contract for Jones, who remains away from the team.
Jones is reportedly seeking a contract that will reset the market. Defensive tackles cashed in this offseason, as Dexter Lawrence, Quinnen Williams, Javon Hargrave, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jonathan Simmons and Daron Payne all cashed in.
But, none of them topped the most recent contract extension that Aaron Donald signed with the Los Angeles Rams. That is the benchmark that Jones supposedly wants to meet or go above of. As of right now, that isn’t something the Chiefs are willing to do.
How long could this holdout go on for? As shared by Adam Teicher of ESPN, it could go deep into the regular season, as Jones isn’t afraid to wait things out for as long as possible. He isn’t concerned about he fines that he has been racking up, either.
“Defensive tackle Chris Jones indicated on social media that he’s willing to continue his holdout from the Kansas City Chiefs until Week 8 and that until then he’s willing to forfeit his weekly game check, in his case about $1.1 million dollars, because “I can afford it.””
More fuel was added to the fire when Jones shared a thread on X, the social media formerly known as Twitter, with a clear message taking a shot at the Chiefs. “If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind also,” the photo read.
This has turned into a high-stakes game of chicken, as both sides are waiting for the other to blink first. As Teicher shared, Jones has nothing but time, as paying fines and reporting to the team in Week 8 is fine by him.
Is that something the Chiefs can afford to have happen? Jones is one of the most dominant players in the NFL, picking up 15.5 sacks last season to go along with 17 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hits and 46 total pressures.
There isn’t a player on the Chiefs roster, let alone many in the NFL, that can replicate that production. It would be in the team’s best interest to work out an extension with Jones and get him back on the field as soon as possible.
