All eyes are going to be on free agent Chris Jones for the next two months. The Kansas City Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in as many years, and they couldn’t have hoisted either Lombardi without their All-Pro defensive tackle collapsing the pocket. After a lengthy offseason holdout, Jones returned to the Chiefs on a revised one-year deal and was arguably the most important player on an elite defense.
The Chiefs and Chris Jones found a band-aid solution for their contract woes last year, but now the free agent is set to hit the open market. It’s no secret that the Chiefs and Jones both want to be reunited, as head coach Andy Reid recently said that they’d “love” to have him back, while Jones himself said he’ll be back during the team’s parade rally.
However, the NFL is a business at the end of the day, and nothing’s going to get done if both sides can’t make the money work. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Chiefs will not sign impending free agent Chris Jones any time soon.
Conflicting Reports Emerge on Free Agent Chris Jones
While Florio’s report doesn’t give explicit details on the current status of the contract negotiations, we can read between the lines to see that Chris Jones could become a free agent. The 2024 league year officially starts on March 13th, so Kansas City has less than a month to sign the two-time All-Pro.
The Chiefs could use the franchise tag to keep Chris Jones from becoming a free agent, but that would be incredibly costly. Kansas City currently has $23.7 million in cap space, and tagging Jones would invoke a cap hit of $32.16 million. The Chiefs would need to make a few cost-cutting moves before they’d even have the ability to tag Jones, and even then, they probably wouldn’t have the financial flexibility to go after key free agents.
If Florio’s report is correct, then there is a good chance that Chris Jones will become a free agent. While the Chiefs will certainly do everything in their power to bring him back, the fact of the matter is that other teams could outbid Kansas City for his services.
Best Team Fits
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders finished with the second-worst record in the league, but they’re in a good position to quickly turn things around. This team can fix the quarterback position with the second-overall pick, and they can fix the defense with their league-leading $83.54 million in cap space. Seeing how the team lost Montez Sweat and Chase Young, Chris Jones could be the top free agent target for a team that desperately needs a better pass rush.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans made it to the AFC Divisional Round with a rookie quarterback and a first-year head coach. Now that the foundation for success is firmly in place, it’s time for this team to use their $65.4 million in cap space to build a legitimate contender. Signing Chris Jones as a free agent would not only make Houston better, but it would cripple the best team in the AFC. If the Texans want to make the Super Bowl, they’ll need to beat the Chiefs, and this is a great way to accomplish that goal.
Chicago Bears
If the Chicago Bears play their cards right, they should be the most improved team in the league. With Caleb Williams taking over for Justin Fields and $70 million in cap space, the Bears have the resources to finally get back to the playoffs. The Bears already improved their pass rush with Montez Sweat, and adding Chris Jones as a free agent will give Chicago two fearsome pass rushers.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have a championship-caliber offense. What they don’t have, however, is a defense that can keep them in low-scoring games. Fortunately, they have $48.1 million in cap space and should be able to sign a big-name free agent like Chris Jones. Jones won’t singlehandedly solve every problem with this defense, but he’ll go a long way in creating a more complete unit.
New Orleans Saints
On paper, the New Orleans Saints should not be able to afford a free agent like Chris Jones. However, this team is the best in the league at finding ways to pull money out of nowhere, and if they want Jones badly enough, they’ll find a way to do it again. Bryan Bresee didn’t do much of anything as a rookie, and New Orleans will need to improve their defensive front if they want to win the NFC South. With Dennis Allen’s job likely on the line, don’t be surprised if this team goes all-in with a big signing like this in 2024.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA Today Sports
