All Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones has established himself as one of the greatest interior pass rushers in the league and a cornerstone of the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense. And the seven-time Pro Bowler has a contract that matches his reputation. 

The Chiefs signed Jones to a five-year, $158.75 million deal in 2024, making him the highest-paid defensive lineman in the league. But according to Bleacher Report, this deal will become a problem for the franchise in the approaching years.

“Jones' $44.9 million 2026 cap hit is the fourth-largest in the NFL this season, and easily the largest among non-quarterbacks. That's about 15 percent of the entire Chiefs' payroll! He's also slated to cost nearly $83 million in 2027 and 2028 combined,” stated Bleacher Report writer Brad Gagnon on June 12.

According to nfl.com, Jones’ $158.75 million contract comes with $101 million in guarantees, which translates to an equally massive cap hit of $44.85 million in 2026 alone and almost $83 million in the next two years put together.

This can drastically restrict Kansas City’s ability to add new talent to the roster and affect the team in the long run.

The Bleacher Report also pointed out that the veteran DT is moving past his prime, which suggests that his performance may also see a decline in the coming seasons. 

“The soon-to-be 32-year-old's approximate value total at Pro Football Reference has dropped significantly in back-to-back campaigns as he continues to drift away from his prime,” Gagnon observed.

After their disappointing 2025 run, the Chiefs are focused on making a comeback this season.

But unless such massive contracts undergo some serious restructuring, the team’s dwindling cap space puts it at risk of ignoring fresh talent in a bid to foster veteran experience.

However, cap space isn’t the only thing that can lead to concerns regarding Kansas City’s 2026 season. The Chiefs' recovering wide receiver is also up on the list.

Kansas City Chiefs Are Keeping An Eye On Rashee Rice’s Rehab

The Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice has been in the news for his run-ins with the law for a while now. But with the approaching season, what has people most concerned is Rice’s injury recovery. 

But according to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, Rice is healing well and is expected to be ready for training camp in late July.

“I was told that was an issue because he was worried about maybe getting an infection while he was in p*****, because he couldn't rehab like he normally would," said Fowler. "He did his best over the last 30 days to do so. He did emerge with no major issues, so he’s going to rehab that over the next six weeks and get ready for training camp.”

Although Rice apparently faced some inflammation, the Chiefs’ medical staff were able to obtain permission from a judge and treat it. 

Rice recently underwent a cleanup procedure for a knee injury he suffered in 2024. However, he was arrested almost immediately after the surgery for violating the terms of his parole. He was forced to serve a 30-day sentence instead of undergoing rehab at home.

Whether this will have any long-term effects on Rashee Rice’s performance will only be revealed when training camp begins. Do you think Kansas City Chiefs can reach the playoffs this season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Arundhoti Palit

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit