Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is a rising star for the Detroit Lions, but they had trouble last season finding a reliable pass rusher
other than the second-year standout.
That might alter this summer, as Chris Jones, the defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is a free agent and the Lions are considered
one of his top landing spots. Jones returned to the Chiefs last season on a one-year contract after inking a $80-million contract in
2020, and he helped the team win the Super Bowl for the second time in a row.
According to Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, Jones might play for the Lions the following season if they are prepared to meet his high
asking price.
Chris Jones: The Last Man Standing in Detroit
Kay reported that after blowing a 17-point lead over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game, the Lions were unable to
advance to the Super Bowl. The team’s defensive shortcomings were made clear by the game, and Kay said that Jones, the “superstar,”
could help with that.
Jones would undoubtedly have a significant influence on Detroit’s capacity to pressure opposing quarterbacks and stop the run, Kay
wrote, “even though his services will be expensive.” “The five-time Pro Bowler would be a great complement to Aidan Hutchinson, the
No. 2 overall pick in 2022, who has had a fantastic start to the season with 21 sacks in his first two seasons.”
After signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley in the offseason with the intention of making
significant improvements to their secondary, the Lions were forced to watch both players suffer from chronic injuries. Although the
Lions made progress in strengthening their defense, Kay pointed out that they still placed last in the league in terms of both total and
scoring defense.
Although adding Jones would significantly improve their pass rush, Kay noted that the cost would also be high.
Chris Jones Is About to Sign a Huge Deal
Even though the Lions are anticipated to have $48 million in cap space, Jones would require a significant financial commitment.
Based on his projections, Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News projected that Jones would sign a four-year, $140 million contract with at
least $100 million in guaranteed money, and Kay predicted that the five-time Pro Bowler might be in the running for the largest total
contract and most guaranteed dollars for a defensive player in league history.
The Chiefs, who are still seen to be a strong contender for Jones, would also need to be persuaded to let go by the Lions. With 10.5
sacks and 30 total tackles in 16 games this season, the 29-year-old is coming off one of his greatest seasons ever. He was named to the
first team of the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.
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