Final yr, the Chiefs had been unwilling to go close to the Aaron Donald wage vary for Chris Jones, trying to pay him in keeping with the youthful crop of defensive tackles prolonged in 2023. With Jones on the cusp of free company, the crew relented. And a few massive numbers are popping out consequently.
Saturday night time’s Chiefs-Jones settlement produced a brand new inside d-line AAV report and a brand new assure commonplace — the latter by a large margin. Jones agreed to a five-year, $158.75M deal, Professional Soccer Speak’s Mike Florio stories. That comes out to $31.75M per yr, a big quantity attributable to Donald’s $31.67M accord main the way in which on the place beforehand.
It doesn’t seem that earlier $95M quantity represents a full assure, nevertheless it does double as a sensible assure. The Chiefs will revisit the rolling assure construction they used for Patrick Mahomes with Jones. The crew must lower Jones in 2025 to keep away from the $95.3M assure, Florio provides. Assured at signing: a $30M signing bonus, Jones’ 2024 and 2025 salaries ($1.2MM, $13.75M) and a $15M 2025 roster bonus. The remainder of Jones’ ensures are in place to vest in 2025.
Jones’ 2026 wage ($19M) is assured for harm at signing however turns into totally assured on Day 3 of the 2025 league yr. The longer term Corridor of Fame d-tackle can be due a $16M roster bonus in 2025. That is categorised as a 2026 roster bonus, however KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson signifies it’s assured for harm already and can be assured totally if Jones is on the Chiefs’ roster on Day 3 of the 2025 league yr. The Chiefs have turned to this year-out assure on a number of fronts with Jones, who needs to be set to choose up the second bonus as nicely.
The contract shifts to a extra conventional construction after Yr 3. If Jones continues to be on the Chiefs’ roster as of Day 3 of the 2027 league yr, $3M of his 2027 base wage ($28.25M) will grow to be assured. Jones’ 2028 base wage ($35M) is non-guaranteed. This deal nearly undoubtedly is not going to be an lively contract by 2028.
Jones has a transparent path to securing $95.3M in ensures by 2025. For reference, Donald acquired $46.5M of his 2022 elevate assured at signing. Nevertheless, the Rams icon solely agreed to a three-year deal. Jones signing a five-year contract helped on this entrance.
It’s protected to imagine the Chiefs wouldn’t have wanted to go close to this assure place had they agreed to pay Jones final yr — earlier than the historic cap spike occurred. However the specter of Jones’ departure seems to be to have modified the Chiefs’ considering, and the longtime DT standout’s high quality contract yr — one which led the way in which in one other Tremendous Bowl win, as Kansas Metropolis’s offense regressed — set himself up for this monumental payday.
