How a Patrick Mahomes contract structure could work for Chris Jones

Could the KC Chiefs use a Patrick Mahomes contract format to structure a contract for Chris Jones?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the Kansas City Chiefs‘ progress with Chris Jones stop and likely will result in him playing elsewhere in 2021. There is an opportunity for the Chiefs and Jones to use the Mahomes structure to get a deal done though, so let’s explore how that could potentially work.

While Jones certainly won’t get the numbers Mahomes did, Jones could use the structure to make a deal work. In specific, the rolling contract guarantees.

In lieu of a large signing bonus, the Chiefs built in a series of rolling guarantees in the Mahomes deal that essentially ties Mahomes to the Chiefs for the duration of the contract.

In the Mahomes contract, his roster bonus becomes guaranteed the season prior. For example, in 2027, Patrick Mahomes’ contract calls for a roster bonus $49.4 million roster bonus. That bonus becomes guaranteed on the third day of the league year in 2026. That setup makes it difficult for the Chiefs to move on from the quarterback, so while the upfront money is less, the long-term payout may actually be more.

The goal is simply this – Jones has the opportunity in this format to eclipse Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald in terms of guaranteed money.

What and how could a deal look? For comparison:

Aaron Donald has a contract of 6 years, $135 million with $86.892million in guarantees.
Frank Clark, who signed with the Chiefs last year after being acquired in a pre-draft trade from Seattle currently has a 5 year contract for $104 million with $62.305 million in guarantees.
DeForest Bucker was traded from San Francisco to Indianapolis this offseason, and agreed to a four year contract with the Colts, $84 million deal with $44.378 million in guaranteed money.

Currently, Chris Jones is on the hook with the Chiefs for $16.1 million on the one-year franchise deal. Jones just recently turned 26.

Let’s take a stab at a deal shall we?

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Five-year deal

$20 million signing bonus ($ 4 million cap hit per year on five-year contract)
$10 million roster bonus in 2021
$10 million roster bonus in 2022
$5 million roster bonus in 2023

Yearly salaries

2020: $4 million
2021: $6 million
2022: $7 million
2023: $12 million
2024: $12 million

Upon signing, the 2020, 2021, and 2022 salaries are fully guaranteed as is the 2021 roster bonus. and the 2022 roster bonus becomes guaranteed at the start of the 2021 league year in March. The 2023 roster bonus and salary fully guaranteed in March of 2023.

Upon signing the contract, Chris Jones has $17 million in guaranteed salary, and $40 million in bonus guarantees in the first three years of the deal. That’s a total of $57 million in guaranteed payout in the first three years of the contract.

If he remains with the Chiefs past the 2022 season, he adds $17 million to his payout. Kansas City can then move on from Jones with limited damage ($4 million cap hit) before the 2024 season.

Why might the KC Chiefs do this deal?

This contract gives the Chiefs a cost controlled star at a young age, and by guaranteeing the first three years of the deal, they are able to avoid or reduce ballooning cap numbers during ensuing years.

Why might Chris Jones do this deal?

For a player looking to get paid, he would receive $24 million in first year payouts and is guaranteed to receive $57 million during the first three seasons. That is a higher three-year payout than Frank Clark ($50.305 million) and more guaranteed money than DeForest Buckner during the entirety of his contract. ($44.378 million)

Does it happen for the KC Chiefs and Chris Jones?

If the Chiefs choose to move on from Jones after the first three seasons, he will be a free agent at 30. That’s still young enough to get a good contract while having secured a nice contract already in his career. The deal also allows the two sides to revisit the contract if needs be.

Do I think a deal gets done like this? No.

While Jones can have big guarantees over the past three years, I don’t think that’s going to be what he’s wanting. I’m also not sure that the Chiefs are really looking for this type of contract.

I obviously don’t know for sure what Chris Jones is looking for, but I’m guessing he’s more interested in the average annual payout and an up front signing bonus. Of course, I am not Chris Jones and can’t speak on his behalf.

The other overriding point – and this needs to be pointed out – is that the Kansas City Chiefs have had 18 months to get Jones extended. It’s hard to fathom how – after 18 months of basically not talking – the Chiefs will be able to get Jones a deal done.

Next. Chris Jones has every right to sit out 2020 season. dark

What do you make of the Chris Jones contract situation and could you see them trying to do something similar to what they did with Patrick Mahomes?

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