Quickly after quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed his current contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, he got in touch with colleague Chris Jones, who was also hoping for a new deal.
” Pat texted me and stated, Lets get this thing done. Thats when I had that security that me and the Chiefs were going to work something out,” Jones stated Monday.
Jones was right. The protective tackle and the Chiefs accepted a long-lasting agreement a few days later. The deal might pay Jones as much as $85 million over the next four years.
1 RelatedThe new contract permits Jones, 26, to continue his profession with the Chiefs, the team that prepared him in the 2nd round in 2016. It will also allow him to continue his legacy as one of the NFLs leading pass rushers. Jones led the Chiefs in sacks in each of the previous 2 seasons, with 15.5 in 2018 and nine in 2015.
” For me, nothings changed,” Jones stated. Its still about being the sack leader and being the protective player of the year.
” If somebody informed me, You might take $20 million or 20 sacks, I d take the 20 sacks any day. Thats where my mind is, where my heart is: getting sacks, winning championship rings, having a good time, enjoying the procedure. Thats where Im at right now. I enjoy sacks with an enthusiasm. I enjoy pass rushing. I could wake up every day and I might pass rush every day. Its my enthusiasm, its my dream, its my objective. Its the love of my life.”
For those factors, the Chiefs felt comfy in providing Jones the long-term contract hes long wanted.
” Over the last few years, Chris has truly proven to be an elite gamer at his position and really one of the best protective gamers in the National Football League,” general manager Brett Veach said. “For just how much hes already achieved on the field, we certainly feel hes just scratching the surface area with his age and skill.”
It took a while for the Chiefs and Jones to get there. Jones held out from offseason practice in 2015 in the hope of getting a brand-new contract then, though he reported on time for training school despite the fact that it didnt occur.
The sides initially could not reach a contract this year, so the Chiefs kept Jones off the free-agent market by making him their franchise player. The long-lasting arrangement wasnt reached till recently. The Chiefs initially needed to clear salary-cap space (they at one point had $177 to deal with under the cap) and then conclude settlements with Mahomes on his 10-year extension, all in the middle of a pandemic.
Due to the fact that of unpredictability with regard to the levels of future wage caps, the Chiefs continued gradually with the agreements for Mahomes and Jones.
” We definitely had some obstacles to overcome,” Veach stated. “We were driven and identified this entire time. … Our plan was to do a great deal of the important things that weve done this offseason, however right at the top of that list were Pat Mahomes and Chris Jones.
” Thats why this took some time. We were simply trying to go through all of the circumstances. … We have adequate game-planning in place to safeguard ourselves and we felt great.”
Thats when I had that security that me and the Chiefs were going to work something out,” Jones stated Monday.
1 RelatedThe brand-new agreement permits Jones, 26, to continue his career with the Chiefs, the group that drafted him in the second round in 2016. Jones led the Chiefs in sacks in each of the previous 2 seasons, with 15.5 in 2018 and 9 last year.
The sides at first could not reach an agreement this year, so the Chiefs kept Jones off the free-agent market by making him their franchise player. … Our strategy was to do a lot of the things that weve done this offseason, however right at the top of that list were Pat Mahomes and Chris Jones.
