Among the frustrating factors in the Kansas City Chiefs' 28-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills is the continued struggles of a once-dominant Chris Jones. It's no secret that there has been plenty of angst regarding the defensive lineman's performance. This started all the way back in Week 1 when Jones shifted to the inside of the line, leaving the edge open for Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to scramble for a first down. Fast forward to the third Kansas City loss of the season, and Jones would again find himself in the spotlight.
On what would be the game-winning touchdown for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Jones believed the quarterback was contained and flat-out stopped playing. With the game on the line, your star defender opted to make an assumption and stand and watch as the game was lost. It was indicative of a player who has now gotten paid and appears content in a role that he is no longer living up to. No longer can the Chiefs rely on Jones to do the heavy lifting in the middle while also consistently finding his way to the quarterback.
Chris Jones Isn't Living up to New Contract in Frustrating Regression
Jones held out for a new deal at the start of the 2023 season and had his contract altered, setting up a 2024 extension that was worth $158 million. In the two seasons since signing the deal, Jones has had his worst years of his career, offering only 7.0 sacks since the start of the 2024 season. In comparison, the previous three seasons all saw the defender finish with double-digit sacks. Leaving room to wonder if a level of contentment has settled in now that Kansas City has paid Jones and put together its recent run of success.
There isn't the same level of urgency and hunger that Jones displayed before signing his new deal. This is plain to see for any fan or pundit who has followed the Chiefs during his tenure with the franchise. Whether the regression from Jones is due to aging or simply a selfish contentment after winning at such a high level and receiving a huge contract is up for debate.
Regardless, it is clear that the defending AFC champs have a problem as they remain stuck with a contract that simply isn't aging well. The current level that Jones is playing at could easily be replaced by a young rookie or a far cheaper offseason addition. However, the Chiefs lack any way out as Jones has three years left on his deal after this season.
Making matters worse is the $44 million cap hit that the pass rusher is scheduled to have during the 2026 season. Kansas City is stuck and has to hope that the once-dominant player can return. Jones had 26 sacks during Kansas City's back-to-back Super Bowl title runs, setting the tone for an incredibly physical defense.
This is something that has been missing throughout the 2025 season along the interior, and Jones has to own this failure. The defender held out and made it clear he was willing to fight for his money above all else. Now that he has been paid and his level of play has dipped, there are obvious frustrations for a franchise that continues to chase greatness. A road that is just a bit more difficult, being forced to pay top dollar for a player who is now playing at an average level.