In four days, the Kansas City Chiefs will return to the field to kick off the 2023 season as the defending Super Bowl champions.
While the Chiefs will raise their newest championship banner, there’s still no telling when top pass rusher and four-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones will join them. Jones remains without a new deal, and his holdout has officially stretched to game week. But now, recently “liked” posts are indicating where Jones secretly desires to play.
Chris Jones Has Analysts and Others Theorizing Where He Wants To Play
Does the two-time Super Bowl winner secretly want to join the Dallas Cowboys?
Captured by USA Today reporter Sky Kruse on Sunday, Jones recently hit the like button on X that had his name attached to the NFC East contender, which led to the question: Does he want to get moved after all?
Interesting. Chris Jones liked tweets. Maybe he does want to get moved afterall? #Bears #Cowboys #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/1rCBZyCMj4
— Sky Kruse (@KruseSports_) September 3, 2023
Those “likes” from Jones got NFL fans wondering, too, if he was both interested in becoming a Cowboy and lobbying for a trade.
Some fans even brought out this idea: Dallas sends defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the Chiefs and a 2024 first-rounder for Jones.
Chris Jones and pick #100 in 2025 for Osa Odighizuwa and pick #32 in 2024.
You’d be insane not to accept that if you’re a Cowboys fan.
— Mason 🇨🇿🇮🇪🇺🇦🇩🇪🇳🇱 (@MasonW4636344) September 3, 2023
Dallas has already pulled off three impressive moves this offseason, landing CB Stephon Gilmore, WR Brandin Cooks, and, most recently, QB Trey Lance.
Again, it was a fan who sparked the rumor. Yet, Jones himself caught wind and gave off the indicator to others that he may want out of K.C. after all.
Jones Has Yet To Report Back to K.C.
The Chiefs are preparing for the Detroit Lions in Week 1.
And they’re doing it without Jones practicing and learning the defensive game plan ahead of the contest.
As noted by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network Sunday, Jones is still holding out ahead of the game.
“Chiefs star DT Chris Jones, who is still holding out, isn’t present and won’t be at today’s practice — considered a Wednesday practice of game week — with the two sides not close on a deal, sources say. KC opens the season Thursday against the Lions,” Rapoport shared.
#Chiefs star DT Chris Jones, who is still holding out, isn’t present and won’t be at today’s practice — considered a Wednesday practice of game week — with the two sides not close on a deal, sources say.
KC opens the season Thursday against the #Lions.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2023
How did the Chiefs reach this point? Jones’ contract is up after this season. Per Spotrac, Jones is due a base salary of $19.5 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
As a multi-time Pro Bowler, the versatile interior defender has become the defensive conscience for an offensive-driven team spearheaded by Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce. Jones’ pass-rushing ability and length have been instrumental in the Chiefs’ latest pair of Vince Lombardi Trophies.
MORE: Travis Kelce Begs Chris Jones To Return to Chiefs Amid Holdout
There are some insights that indicate Jones wants a deal that surpasses the $31.67 million-per-year deal Aaron Donald has with the Los Angeles Rams. However, Mike Florio of NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk wrote on Saturday that Jones isn’t seeking to surpass the Super Bowl 56 champion.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Chiefs have offered to replace the $19.5 million that Jones is due to earn in 2023 with $74 million over the next three years. Of that amount, $70 million would be guaranteed for injury, with a lower amount fully guaranteed,” Florio wrote in his report.
