Chiefs have no intention of trading star defender
If you thought the Kansas City Chiefs might take the route of Tyreek Hill with Chris Jones, think again. Despite the fact that Jones continues to hold out in hopes of a long-term contract extension, the team hasn't changed their stance on the star defender. Speaking to reporters at multiple outlets on Monday, Chiefs GM Brett […]
If you thought the Kansas City Chiefs might take the route of Tyreek Hill with Chris Jones, think again.
Despite the fact that Jones continues to hold out in hopes of a long-term contract extension, the team hasn't changed their stance on the star defender. Speaking to reporters at multiple outlets on Monday, Chiefs GM Brett Veach reiterated that the team's only intention is to come to terms with Jones and his camp on a long-term extension.
He also insisted that this situation is quite different, albeit connected to what went on with Hill a year ago.
“You have to keep in mind that when we did make that move with Tyreek, one of the determining factors was because there was an expected Chris Jones deal,” Veach said, via the Kansas City Star. “And so, to do Tyreek, there was a concern of, ‘Would we be able to do Chris?’
“And so that was a moment of time, and it was before the draft, that we hit the reset button. And we’re like, ‘You know, it’s really hard to trade a player the magnitude of Tyreek Hill.’ But we’re following that up with someone just as significant and on the defensive side.”
So, what is the hold-up in contract negotiations between Jones and the Chiefs? Veach wouldn't get into to specifics with reporters, but it sounds like they weren't surprised by any of his camp's contract demands. It's just a matter of working through the minutiae of making this the best deal possible for the club and for Jones in the interim and long term.
“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, via the Kansas City Star. “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.”
While Veach admitted that talks with Jones' agents have been rather dormant, the nature of the preseason and the season approaching means that they'll soon heat up again. He was unwilling to provide a timeline on when something might get done, but he continues to boast plenty of optimism that a deal would, in fact, get done.
He also stamped out any notion of trade at this time.
"When it gets done, I can't answer that,'' Veach said of a contract extension, via ESPN's Adam Teicher. "There's no thought or mindset to trade or anything like that. Our intention is to get something done. We aren't there yet. The first game isn't until Sept. 7 so that's a positive for us. Chris has played in this scheme now for a few years and he does a great job of staying in shape.
"We'll continue to keep plugging away and hopefully we get something done.''
It doesn't sound as if the Chiefs are concerned about Jones missing training camp and they're prepared to let things play out in hopes that it ends favorably for both sides. After all, Jones did say he wants to be a Chief for Life.
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Featured image via Denny Medley – USA TODAY Sports
