Chris Jones is an apex predator in the ecosystem that is the NFL, and along side Clark the Shark, he racked up 9 sacks in 13 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019-2020 season. Make no mistake, any team that has Chris Jones starting at DT will have an elite pass rush commodity… but will that team be the Chiefs?
The word coming out of Arrowhead is that Chris Jones is seeking a $21 mil/per contract. No one is more deserving of a contract that size than Chris Jones, however, the Chiefs are in a position where they cannot afford to give him that money. It is just a matter of time before Patrick Mahomes will be the highest paid player the NFL has ever seen, and a $40-$50 mil/per salary cap hit is going to decimate the inevitable reduction of cap space after COVID 19. Would you rather have Patrick Mahomes or Chris Jones? I think we would all take the former.
This is not all doom and gloom. The Chiefs have the potential to make a blockbuster offseason move. Grant Morse (@grm8982) outlined a spectacular trade scenario that might put Brett Veach in the conversation for best GM in the league. Brace yourselves…
Jets receive Chris Jones
Chiefs receive Jamal Adams & sign Jadeveon Clowney to a 3 year $17 mil/per contract extension
Wow
This would all hinge on the Jets trading Adams straight up and also on Adams being willing to play out his rookie deal. I do not believe that Clowney is going to bring anywhere close to the production that Jones has, but he would not be a bad replacement. This move would also provide the Chiefs will some much needed help in the secondary and it would allow Tyrann Matheiu to feel more comfortable playing all over the field.
The Chiefs will have to learn to live without their homegrown big man Chris Jones, but there is some hope for a functioning defense in his absence. Patrick Mahomes IS this team, and having him at QB puts us in the conversation for a Super Bowl appearance every year.
