ESPN Reporter Provides Update on Chris Jones Extension With Chiefs

Dianna Russini appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and discussed contract negotiations with the Chiefs and their star defensive tackle.

As star defensive tackle Chris Jones continues to hold out from Kansas City Chiefs training camp due to his lack of a long-term contract extension, many are wondering whether a deal will eventually get done. While nothing has been ironed out to date, ESPN reporter and host Dianna Russini provided a bit of clarity late on Thursday morning.

Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Russini was asked by McAfee about the latest details on some of the NFL's most popular contract-related developments. Jones's absence from camp is at or near the top of that list, especially when considering the 29-year-old is being fined $50,000 for every practice he misses. Jones wants to bridge the gap between the highest-paid defensive tackle (Aaron Donald, who makes over $31 million per year) and second place (Quinnen Williams, who checks in at $24M on average), but neither side can come to an agreement just yet. Russini hinted at what Jones is looking for, yet she remains on the side of a deal getting done:

"Chris Jones, the most recent stuff... I had a conversation with someone this morning that's involved in the negotiations. They still feel really optimistic [that] they're going to get it done. The number Chris Jones wants, it's a big number. It's a big number. But the Chiefs, every conversation I've had with them over the last few months has been nothing but understanding his value, understanding his role on this team, 'We want to get this done. We feel good we're going to get this done. We're optimistic.' That's one of those [situations] where I think it feels a little icky right now, but I think it's going to work out by the time we get to at least the third or fourth week of camp here."

A potential Jones extension has been a talking point in Chiefs circles for months. Not only did the longtime Chief post the best season of his career in 2022-23, but he played a critical role in securing the franchise its second Super Bowl win with him on the team. Finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Jones ascended to a rare tier over the course of the year and was a tried and true closer in many games. While he has always been under contract for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, an extension would provide more security and effectively prevent him from hitting the open market in the spring.

Despite this semi-accelerated timeline, the Chiefs didn't move with much of a sense of urgency as the 2023 NFL Draft approached. Their focus since then has been Jones, although no agreement is in place even with those efforts on both sides. Russini compared Kansas City's situation to some of the quicker-developing ones around the league, then she doubled down on believing Jones and the team will eventually come to terms on an updated contract:

"It's funny, right? Because you have some of these deals where there's that sense of urgency, they're going up against the clock all the time and you're like, 'Well, why are you waiting so long?' I feel like with this, even going back to the Ring of Honor ceremony I attended with the Chiefs a few months ago, I think it was in June, just talking to them [they're like] 'Yeah, we'll get it done' and Andy (Reid) is like, 'Chris will show up' and then he didn't show up, so that threw a wrench. They weren't expecting him not to show up. That's where it did get a little off track. But the sense I get is it'll get done. Chris wants to be there, they want Chris there."

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