The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and defensive star Chris Jones have agreed to the framework of a five-year contract that includes $95m guaranteed and keeps the All-Pro defensive tackle off the free-agent market, sources told the Associated Press.
The money that is guaranteed is expected to come over the first three years with another two years that are not guaranteed.
The deal makes Jones the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots look like they will move on from their former first-round pick at quarterback, Mac Jones.
ESPN reports New England will trade him to his hometown team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, in return for a sixth-round pick when the new league year starts on Wednesday.
New England have the third overall pick in this year’s draft and will almost certainly take a quarterback, most likely LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
The Patriots selected Jones with the 15th pick of the 2021 draft, and he was given the intimidating task of becoming Tom Brady’s long-term successor.
He made the Pro Bowl and the playoffs in his first season but his play has declined since, and he flamed out spectacularly in 2023 and was eventually replaced by Bailey Zappe.
He has 46 TD passes and 36 INTs in three NFL seasons.
Jones will vie with 30-year-old CJ Beathard for Jacksonville’s backup spot, behind starter Trevor Lawrence.
Jones will count $4.96m against the team’s salary cap in the final year of his rookie contract. Beathard is scheduled to count $2.4m in the final year of his deal.
The Jaguars are unlikely to keep both on their 53-man roster to start the season.
