(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have made it clear they’re going for a three-peat in the 2024 season, but they have some work to do first in the coming weeks before they can declare themselves front-running championship contenders this fall.
While aging star tight end Travis Kelce will be returning for another season, stud cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has received their non-exclusive franchise tag, and many expect him to get traded before the new season starts.
Then there is Chris Jones, the load-bearing weight of their defensive line and their main pass rusher.
He’s about to officially become a free agent, and Ian Rapoport said on the “The Pat McAfee Show” that while contract talks aren’t done, they’re going well and the Chiefs seem willing to pay him, even though he’s looking for something close to $30 million a year.
“The Chris Jones deal with the Chiefs isn’t done yet but the conversations have been positive..
The Chiefs seem willing to pay him and if it gets done it would make a lot of sense” @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/pDibxE9PcE
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 8, 2024
Jones did hold out of training camp last summer because he was looking for a lucrative extension, and he eventually agreed to a one-year deal in time to be able to play in Week 2.
In 16 games, he posted 10.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hits, and 13 tackles for loss while earning his fifth straight Pro Bowl appearance and second straight All-Pro First-Team nod.
If Kansas City cannot come to terms with Jones and he ends up leaving, it would be a major blow to their hopes for a fourth world title in the Patrick Mahomes era.
In 2023, they evolved from a team that won with big-yardage plays on offense to more of a dink-and-dunk offensive squad that won with defense.
With Jones harassing opposing quarterbacks, they finished second in both points and total yards allowed, and in the Super Bowl, they held San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in check in crunch time.
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