NFL Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs Considering New Deal for Superstar Defensive Lineman

The Kansas City Chiefs may clear some cap space by extending one of their very best players. While appearing on Sportscenter on Sunday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggested the team was open to signing four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Chris Jones to a new deal.

PFF gave #Chiefs DT Chris Jones his flowers at the end of the 2022 NFL season, but they still think Aaron Donald is the best interior defensive lineman in football. https://t.co/xZKlNMRwpH
— Chiefs Wire (@TheChiefsWire) May 31, 2023

The highest-paid interior defensive lineman (and non-quarterback) in the league is Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald, who is currently playing on a three-year, $95 million contract. Jones is about to enter the final year of a four-year, $80 million deal and will likely expect a deal just behind Donald's singular extension.

Donald is a generational player and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, but Jones has a very real claim to being the second-best player at their position. He led all interior defensive linemen last year with his 92.0 overall Pro Football Focus grade and earned a first-team All-Pro while tallying 15.5 sacks. He's also a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion.

The Chiefs are presently a mere $650K under the 2023 salary cap, according to overthecap. As expensive as Jones' next deal would certainly be, it would likely give the Chiefs some much-needed relief on their balance sheet. So long as they can swing something that doesn't sabotage future seasons, a deal makes sense for both sides.