The Kansas City Chiefs watched this past week as the Tennessee Titans made star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons the top-paid player at the position. The three-year extension carries an annual value of $35.3 million with $100 million in guarantees. Simmons is now setting the bar at the position, while Chris Jones has been surpassed. It is noteworthy as Jones heads into a season where it appears Kansas City has finally given the veteran capable help on the inside.
Rookie Peter Woods and veteran addition Khyiris Tonga have made the potential for a huge season from Jones clear. With that in mind, the stage is set for Jones to again seek a raise if the 2026 season goes as expected.
Jones has made it clear in years past that he expected to be at the top of the market at the position. Turning back the clock to the 2023 season, Jones held out, refusing to take part in team events, leading to a reworked deal and an eventual extension.
This makes it clear that the veteran is willing to fight for what the market demands and set the pace at the position. Jones is 31 and will be 32 at the start of the season, making very few bites at the apple left when it comes to capitalizing on his prime. It's possible that a great 2026 season would be the last time Jones has meaningful leverage.
Simmons' massive extension sets the stage for Kansas City to hand Jones one final raise.
Jones was surpassed in annual value and has two additional years of team control remaining in the 2027 and 2028 seasons. It makes sense that a dominant season like the one in 2022, when Jones had 15.5 sacks and 30 combined tackles, set up the eventual blockbuster extension. While the years since haven't offered the same level of production, it's easy to point to a declining supporting cast, with the talent of Jones remaining undeniable.
For Jones, the question simply becomes whether it is truly important to be viewed as the top annual value at the position. It was a clear factor in years past, with it forcing a holdout and the Chiefs to eventually meet the defender's wishes of a high-paying deal.
If history repeats itself, we could see Jones earn one last record-breaking extension. Simmons has set the tone and left this firmly on the table as we head closer to what is now even more of a pivotal season for Jones.
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