Kansas City Chiefs DL Chris Jones.
In 2023, the defense of the Las Vegas Raiders made significant progress, placing tenth in points allowed. They achieved this while standing 31st in Spotrac’s defensive spending rankings.
The Raiders might spend a lot of money on defensive players this offseason because they have a $55 million salary cap, according to Spotrac. Chris Jones, a defensive tackle with the Kansas City Chiefs, will cost Las Vegas the most money in free agency. Bleacher Report thinks Jones ought to be Las Vegas’ top target.
Closing the gap with the Kansas City Chiefs should be the Raiders’ top priority at this point, according to a January 10 essay by Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department. “What better way to accomplish that than by stealing the top defensive player from the Chiefs? Jones is one of the few interior defensive linemen who can really take over a game.
That kind of defensive lineman hasn’t been on the Raiders roster in a very long time. Tyree Wilson would be on the other side, and Maxx Crosby could reach a new level in his game with his ability to attract double teams and still win his reps.
Jones has established himself as the finest defensive tackle in the NFL and has back-to-back seasons with over 10.o sacks. Additionally, he is only 29 years old, so he should still have a few elite years left in him. He will soon receive a sizable salary.
Chris Jones Project to Get Huge Contract
It will cost a lot of money for any team to try to wrest Chris Jones away from the Chiefs. For Kansas City to give him a modest salary increase in 2023, he was prepared to sit out the entirety of training camp and skip the opening game of the season.
Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger ranked Jones as the top free agent in 2024 and predicted that he would get a $120 million, four-year deal.
In a column published on December 10, Spielberger stated, “Jones is not only one of the best interior pass-rushers in the game right now, he’s one of the best ever.” “As a five-technique, he can also line up outside of tackles, bend around the edge, and get home.”
This contract would make Jones one of the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history. The Raiders are in a position to be able to afford him but whether or not they pursue could depend on who gets hired as general manager.
Chris Jones Admits He Could Be Playing Final Game in KC
Chris Jones leaving the AFC West is a win for the franchise, even if he chooses not to join with the Raiders. Over his career, Jones has 8.5 sacks versus the Raiders. In light of the Chiefs’ upcoming playoff matchup with the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round, Jones acknowledged that it might be his last game at home.
“I try not to consider that this might be my final game here at Arrowhead, but you never know.” However, above all, we have a game to play,” Jones stated to the reporters on January 9.
It’s unclear if the Chiefs will have enough money to even extend an offer to Jones, but he seems open to the thought of moving on. Their defense has benefited greatly from his presence, so losing him would be devastating.
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