All 32 teams in the NFL have until Monday to decide if they are going to use their franchise tag, and the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to franchise tag, Chris Jones. Ahead of free agency, Andy Reid opened up about possibly placing the franchise tag on Jones.
“Chris is a part of this team — a big part of this team,” said Reid via 610 Sports Radio. “He helped us get where we were; it’s crazy because, in this business, we’re all expendable. That’s been proven over and over again. On the other hand, you’d like to keep everybody. But that’s not real.”
Earlier this offseason, Reid seemed confident that the Chiefs would be able to negotiate a long-term deal with Jones. Now, Reid doesn't appear to be as confident as he once was when it comes to retaining Jones for next season.
Over the past three seasons, Jones has been a crucial piece to Kansas City's defensive line. Since 2017, the former second-round pick has contributed a total of 31 sacks, 62 quarterback hits, and seven forced fumbles. Besides Aaron Donald, Jones has been one of the most productive interior defenders in the NFL in recent years.
Following the news that the Chiefs could franchise tag him, Jones expressed his disappointment in the decision. For most players, having the franchise tag placed on them makes them feel devalued.
Despite the tag being a possibility, Reid made it clear that the Chiefs want Jones back with the team in 2020. However, Jones could refuse to sign the franchise tag and force his way out of Kansas City.
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