Bears Chance Chris Jones Viewed Less Likely

At least the early indications point toward one potential Bears free agency target being off the board.

In other words, it won't be easy to replace their own Jones with someone else's.

The Bears can use an upgrade at defensive tackle over Justin Jones and the top defensive lineman for free agency is expected to by Kansas City's Chris Jones, who some felt should have been voted their Super Bowl MVP.

The Chiefs and Jones reached a one-year agreement last year after he'd initially been tagged but at the Chiefs Super Bowl celebration this week the dominant lineman told fans he'll be staying with the Chiefs.

"I need three of those rings, baby," he hollered to the crowd . "We ain't done yet. We ain't done yet. Kansas City, we will be back here next year. And for those who want Chris Jones, I ain't going nowhere, baby!"

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show said: "I don't think Chris Jones is gonna wanna leave unless there's some huge offers out there."

Such negotiations are not done in front of a crowd of celebrating fans but Jones' initial preference is at least noted.

He is projected as a $30 million/year player by Pro Football Focus and $28.4 million by Spotrac.com after a $22.7 million cap cost to the Chiefs this year.

The Chiefs are not a team with a huge amount of salary cap space and Overthecap.com projects they are $14.5 million available in effective cap space. That's middle of the pack.

Adam Schefter on the Pat McAfee show:

He revealed that he doesn't think Chris Jones will want to leave unless "there's a huge difference in offers between the Chiefs and another team"

Then he says the Chiefs secretly got an extension done with Joe Cullen last week. pic.twitter.com/AHRuATucwy
— Robert 💔💔 (@RobertRaymond46) February 12, 2024

However, with Patrick Mahomes' huge contract on the books at $16.6 million in salary for next year and $45 million in salary each of the next two years, there is oppotunity for restructuring into bonus money to fit in a big deal for Jones.

The Chiefs also have to find a way to pay cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, though, so the money could get awfully tight.

If Jones turns out to be out of reach, the Bears could have other options in free agency.

Baltimore's Justin Madubuike, Miami's Christian Wilkins, the Giants' Leonard Williams, Indianapolis' Grover Stewart and Houston's Sheldon Rankins are among the next-best possible Bears options at defensive tackle in free agency. Pro Football Focus' projections are that Wilkins makes it to free agency while Madubuike gets tagged.

They could always choose to sign back their own free agent, Justin Jones.

The Bears definitely could do much worse than Jones, who greatly improved his statistics in his second year of playing the position. His 4 1/2 sacks were 1 1/2 more than his previous career best. He made 10 of his career-high 17 quarterback hits and 3 1/2 of his 4 1/2 sacks after the Bears brought Montez Sweat on board. It was part of the so-called "Tez effect."

Jones' 22 pressures were 12 more than he had in any other season and 13 more than in 2022 with the Bears, according to Sportradar.

Overall, Jones benefited also from having Andrew Billings at nose tackle in 2023 as a player who removed some of the double-teaming.

The Bears drafted two potenital replacements for Jones in Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens but neither one proved to be great successes as rookies. Dexter did become more productive later in the year after Sweat arrived on the scene, as well. He had his 2 1/2 sacks and nine of his 12 quarterback hits after Sweat came on board.

However, his effectiveness against the run was in question all year and Pro Football Focus graded him 118th against the run of 130 interior defensive line players last season. They gave him an overall ranking of 101 among interior defenders, but it was six spots higher than Jones' ranking.

If they tried to go back to the draft again for a defensive tackle for the second straight year, Jer'Zhan Newton of Illinois is a classic three technique type and the only defensive tackle projected by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. as worthy of a first-round pick. Texas' T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy are the next two highest-rated defensive tackles on Kiper's chart.

The Bears don't necessarily have to find another interior defensive line player if they sign back Jones.

They could look to amp up the other edge position with players in free agency like Danielle Hunter or Brian Burns or in the draft with UCLA's Laiatu Latu, Alabama's Dallas Turner or Florida State's Jared Verse.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven