From the recent developments at the NFL 2023, Chris Jones, a defensive tackle, concluded his contract negotiation on Monday by signing a new one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In a statement, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach stated, "Chris is an elite player in this league and over the last seven years, he's really developed into a leader on our team. He has been crucial to our victories in Super Bowls past, so keeping him in a Chiefs uniform was a top priority for us. I want to express my gratitude to Chris and his legal counsel Michael and Jason Katz for their perseverance and determination to see this through.” Two things became clear during this process: Chris wanted to be a Chief, and the Katz brothers put forth a lot of effort on his behalf.
Jones is expected to play for the first time this season when the Chiefs host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Jones indicated last week at a charity event in Kansas City that he was staying in shape and would be ready to play the day after signing a new contract.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Jones obtained incentives in his new contract that would allow him to earn more than the $19.5 million he was due to make this season under his previous contract.
Jones did not play in the Chiefs' 21-20 loss to the Detroit Lions in their season opener last Thursday, forfeiting his game check of almost $1.1 million.
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Jones did not report to training camp because he was looking for a better deal. He was in the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs that he signed in 2020. He would have been the league's ninth-highest-paid defensive tackle based on average salary under the contract.
Jones captained the Chiefs during the 2022 postseason, including Super Bowl LVII. The 101 committee voted him AFC Defensive Player of the Year last season. The four-time Pro Bowler and four-time AP All-Pro was selected in the second round (37th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Jones, a native of Houston, Mississippi, attended Mississippi State University. The Chiefs' defense will be a far stronger one in 2023 owing to Jones' capacity to prevent opposing offenses.
