KC Chiefs GM Brett Veach 'Cautiously Optimistic' About New Chris Jones Contract
As February comes to a close and the calendar turns to March, all eyes will be on the NFL's legal tampering and free agency periods. With just under two weeks until that takes place, time is ticking for the Kansas City Chiefs and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Jones, who is coming off a second All-Pro campaign in a row, is set to receive a massive contract this offseason. His projected franchise tag value of over $32 million never seemed to be a legitimate possibility, thus leaving Kansas City with a 're-sign or nothing' scenario in all likelihood. Jones held out last summer after stalled negotiations between his camp and the Chiefs, not returning until Week 2 of the regular season.
For general manager Brett Veach, he's hoping that round two of negotiations will fare better for everyone involved. Catching up with James Palmer of NFL Network this week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Veach said he's "cautiously optimistic" this time around.
"I think, to a certain extent, it makes it easier," Veach said. "We have a great deal of respect for his agents and, obviously, we have a great deal of respect for Chris. I think our goal and intentions were to get something done last year. We weren't able to get it done — we hit a little rough patch there the week of that Detroit game — but give him and his crew a ton of credit because we met right after that game and had a great conversation. We talked about some of the things in how this may all play out, so here we are.
"I think to your point, we have that kind of backlog of dialogue that we've shared. Listen, we're cautiously optimistic. He's a great player and these things are never easy, but we're going to certainly put our best foot forward and try to get something done."
Last year, the Chiefs presented a sizable two-year offer to Jones's camp but it was rejected. He returned on a new one-year contract that allowed him to recoup a lot of what he lost during the holdout, although it resulted in the same situation unfolding now. Both sides, once again, have to get something done if Jones is to play his age-30 season and beyond as a Chief. He figures to command in the neighborhood of $30M per year on a multiyear deal.
Kansas City won't be caught off guard if nothing happens between now and March 11 (the start of the legal tampering period). Veach said "contingency plans and backup plans" are in place for a worst-case scenario. Last offseason, the Jones saga wound up dragging on longer than expected. This year, by the time free agency begins, the team should have a much better idea of where things stand. That, hypothetically, would be Jones's first real taste of free agency and he'd likely have serious suitors. If he hits the open market, it becomes more difficult to envision him back in Kansas City in 2024.
That's why the next 10 days or so are critical. Veach targeted the end of Wednesday as a timeline to have already touched base with representation for Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. As he works to figure out what works and doesn't, the future of Chiefs football as he knows it will be altered. He's hoping that future has Jones in the picture.
