Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach isn't nervous regarding contract negotiations with star defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Some big names are currently holding out of training camp, as they seek a new contract. Chris Jones, star defensive tackle of the Kansas City Chiefs, is one of them. Jones is seeking to become one of the highest-paid players at his position, especially with the amount of younger players who earned $90 million-plus contracts this offseason. With that, Jones decided to hold out of training camp until he and the team can reach an agreement on a new deal.
While speaking with Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach discussed where talks are and what the next moves will be. Veach said that Jones deserves to get paid, and he will do what it takes to make sure that he remains with the Chiefs for the foreseeable future.
"He's a great player, and he wants a big contract. He deserves a big contract, and I don't think there's any surprises in that regard," Veach said Monday, h/t Sports Illustrated. "But there's just some hurdles we have to work through in regards to how we can keep this thing going for the short- and long-term. But we've never wavered on, 'This is a guy that we want to exhaust all of our efforts to get done,' because that's how much we think of him."
Chiefs: Brett Veach is confident that Chris Jones' contract will get done
While last offseason, talks with wide receiver Tyreek Hill were seemingly leading to a new contract, they fell through. That then led Veach to trade Hill to the Miami Dolphins, where he signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the team.
Veach said that he will look to avoid another Hill situation. There will be no trade.
"I think for all parties, I think the best resolution would be for him to end his career as a Chief — and get that financial security — and for us to do what we had set out to do, and that's to work through last offseason with this offseason in mind and get some young guys, which we did that, and then focus on this year and getting Chris done," Veach said, h/t NFL.com. "Hopefully, we get this resolved, but we have no intentions of making a trade."
Jones is currently making $20 million per year on his current four-year, $80 million deal, which expires at the end of the season. In terms of annual salary, Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams leads the way with $31.67 million. In second is Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, who makes $24 million.
Last season, Jones recorded 44 combined tackles (30 solo, 14 assisted), 29 quarterback hits, 15.5 sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Veach and the Chiefs' goal is to win another Super Bowl, specifically, their third in the past five years. As for Jones' contract, Veach is confident that it will be done.
