Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Inside the new deal for Chiefs DT Chris Jones

Four weeks after winning his third Super Bowl, Chiefs defensive tackle Chiefs Jones has gotten his third contract. And it’s a big one.

Jones becomes the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, with a new five-year, $158.75 million deal. The average of $31.75 million surpasses the $31.67 million average from the three-year, $95 million contract signed by Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald in 2022.

Here are the details of the deal, per a source with knowledge of the situation:

1. Signing bonus: $30 million. ($18 million is due by April 5, 2024; $12 million is due by April 5, 2025.)

2. 2024 base salary: $1.25 million, fully guaranteed.

3. 2024 offseason workout bonus: $100,000.

4. 2025 roster bonus: $15 million, fully guaranteed at signing.

5. 2025 base salary: $13.75 million, fully guaranteed.

6. 2025 offseason workout bonus: $100,000.

7. 2026 roster bonus: $16 million, guaranteed for injury at signing, and fully guaranteed as of the third day of the 2025 league year.

8. 2026 base salary: $19 million, guaranteed for injury at signing, and fully guaranteed as of the third day of the 2025 league year.

9. 2026 offseason workout bonus: $100,000.

10. 2027 base salary: $28.25 million, $3 million of which becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2027 league year.

11. 2027 offseason workout bonus: $100,000.

12. 2028 base salary: $35 million, $3 million of which becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2028 league year.

13. 2028 offseason workout bonus: $100,000.

It’s a three-year deal with a practical guarantee of $95.3 million, inching out Donald’s three-year, $95 million haul. (The offseason workout bonuses of $100,000 made the difference.)

Although three years aren’t fully guaranteed at signing, the Chiefs would have to cut him after one year to avoid the $95 million obligation. If they do, they would owe him $60.2 million for one year.

The Chiefs have an option on the final two years. It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs will pay him $28.5 million in 2027, when he’s 32. Then, at 33, the salary becomes $33.5 million.