NFL Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs' Top Defensive Player Could Hold Out, Wants $20 Million Salary

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sign Patrick Mahomes to a contract extension this summer, but things aren’t going nearly as well with the team’s best defensive player. Chris Jones still hasn’t signed his franchise tender, and the two sides reportedly haven’t gotten close to agreeing on a long-term deal.

Kansas City used its franchise tag on Jones in March, preventing him from hitting free agency. The tag would pay the defensive tackle a guaranteed $16.126 million salary for the 2020 NFL season. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo, Jones is looking to make at least $20 million a year.

Jones responded to Garofolo’s report on Twitter and suggested that he might sit out the entire season instead of playing on the one-year tag. He references Le'Veon Bell, who skipped the 2018 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before going to the New York Jets as a free agent.

Or I won’t play. @LeVeonBell told me about this
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) July 1, 2020

Aaron Donald is the league’s highest-paid defensive tackle with a $22.5 million average yearly salary. Donald inked a six-year, $135 million extension with the Los Angeles Rams two years ago in between winning consecutive NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Other than Donald, Jones might be the best defensive tackle in the NFL. The 25-year-old had 36 tackles, 20 quarterback hits and nine sacks in 13 games during the 2019 season. Jones was a Second-Team All-Pro selection two years ago with 29 quarterback hits and 15.5 sacks.

Jones played a key role in keeping the San Francisco 49ers off the scoreboard during Kansas City’s comeback in Super Bowl LIV.

The franchise tag would make Jones the sixth-highest-paid player at his position. Geno Atkins, Grady Jarrett and Fletcher Cox are all set to earn between $16.3 million and $17.1 million in 2020. The Indianapolis Colts made DeForest Buckner the second-highest-paid defensive tackle when they traded for him in March and signed him to a four-year, $84 million contract.

Defensive end Frank Clark is the highest-paid Chief with a $20.8 million salary. Mahomes could sign a contract worth around $40 million per year.