The Kansas City Chiefs are above and beyond the best team in the NFL. There is simply no arguing that point after they won back-to-back Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024 but the number one thing that has destroyed dynasties in the past is financial error.
Let’s look at an obvious example: The 1990s Bulls were arguably the best franchise in the history of sports after they won six championships in seven years. The team was simply flying high and really had no end in sight under the general manager started working on trading players away trying to extend the life of the franchise. Once the team was dismantled after 1998 with the legendary Michael Jordan leaving the team, the franchise basically hasn’t been able to bounce back since.
It looks like Kansas City is about to make the same mistake heading into 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs Release Information Regarding Monster Contract to Defensive Tackle
Let’s just start with a brief overview of Kansas City’s current financial situation: after applying the franchise tag to defensive back L’Jarius Sneed, the Chiefs only had about $3 million available in space against the salary cap. That is even before the team goes into the NFL Draft and has to fork out a few million dollars to pay rookie contracts.
After being in that situation, Kansas City went out and retained superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones to a five-year contract worth $160 million. That is an average of $32 million per season for a defensive tackle which actually tops the record set by arguably the best defensive player of all time Aaron Donald in the offseason of 2022.
Let’s take a look at the biggest problem with this contract: Jones will be turning 30 by the start of the 2024 NFL Season. That means for an absolute juggernaut of a five-year contract, you are likely only to have a year or two left of Jones in his prime. Donald was in a similar situation when the Rams signed him to a three-year deal in 2022 and his play dropped off dramatically after the new contract went into effect. Donald had double-digit sacks for six out of seven years from 2015 to 2021 but then dropped to five and then eight sacks in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
It is likely that a similar drop in play will come from this contract but let’s be honest with ourselves: Donald is arguably the best defensive player of all-time. Jones is a pretty good player that is being paid like he is far better. That is an insane amount of commitment to pass to a 30-year old defensive tackle.
The second issue is to look at the state of Kansas City’s salary cap: with only $3 million available next season, that means that a likely $25 million dollar salary cap hit (I’ll assume that there will be plenty of money delegated to void years after Jones finishes his contract), the team will need to cut or renegotiate away over $20 million. Obviously the biggest hit is the $58 million brought on by Patrick Mahomes‘ big contract but it is likely that will actually increase over the next few years after hands down the best quarterback in the NFL wants to be paid closer to what he is actually worth.
Jones is one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL right now and is a huge impact player for Kansas City. Unfortunately, his contract will force the franchise to force out a long list of players over the next five years, slamming the door on Kansas City’s Super Bowl window.
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