NFL Free Agency: Chris Jones signs record-breaking five-year deal with $95 million guaranteed, per report
Star defensive tackle Chris Jones has a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Jones has re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple reports.
The new extension covers five years and includes $95 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It will reportedly be the highest average salary ever paid out to a defensive tackle.
The former Mississippi State star is one of the best defenders in the NFL. He was named first-team All-Pro each of the past two seasons.
Chris Jones has won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs and was named to the Pro Bowl each of the past five years. In addition to a pair of first-team All-Pro honors, he has also been named second-team All-Pro three times.
Chris Jones was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, No. 37 overall. He has spent his entire career with the Chiefs to this point.
Last year, Jones recorded 10.5 sacks. He had 15.5 sacks in 2022.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.
More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents
Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match that round pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.