Over the past several years, Kansas City Chiefs superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones has emerged as the top interior defensive lineman in the entire league. And now, he’s going to be paid accordingly to stick with the team.
According to a report from league insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Kansas City Chiefs and Chris Jones have agreed to a contract that makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the entire NFL.
“The final numbers on the #Chiefs deal with Chris Jones: 5 years, $158.75M base including $101M in guarantees. He gets a $30M signing bonus, the first two years guaranteed and his 2026 base salary guarantees in 2025. $31.75M years average, the highest-paid DT,” Rapoport said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
The final numbers on the #Chiefs deal with Chris Jones: 5 years, $158.75M base including $101M in guarantees. He gets a $30M signing bonus, the first two years guaranteed and his 2026 base salary guarantees in 2025.
$31.75M years average, the highest-paid DT.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
Jones was set to be one of the most highly-coveted free agents if he was able to hit the open market on Wednesday when the free agency period officially begins, but the Chiefs were able to work out a deal to keep him in Kansas City.
The Chiefs are coming off a second-consecutive win in the Super Bowl and are looking for a three-peat next year. Jones will go a long way toward helping them do it.