Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is entering a contract year, and as a result, Jones is holding out from NFL training camp. But recent word from Dianna Russini of ESPN during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show indicates that the Chiefs are optimistic that they will get a long-term deal done.

“They still feel really optimistic they're going to get it done,” Russini said, via The Pat McAfee Show. “The number Chris Jones wants is a big number, but the Chiefs, every conversation I've had with them over the last few months, has been nothing but understanding his value, understanding his role on this team, we want to get this done, we feel good we're going to get this done, we're optimistic. That's one of those where I think it feels a little icky right now, but I think it's going to work out by the time we get to at least the third, fourth week of camp here.”

Chris Jones is arguably one of the best defensive tackles in the league, if not the best. He saw fellow defensive tackles like Dexter Lawrence, Jeffery Simmons and Quinnen Williams get long-term deals done. It is understandable for Jones to want to get a deal done.

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The Chiefs did not expect Jones to hold out, according to Russini, but that does not impact the team's overall optimism regarding a deal. It seems that the Chiefs are confident in a deal getting done, and it will be interesting to see at what point that happens. Given Dexter Lawrence, Jeffery Simmons and Quinnen Williams got extensions, it is reasonable to believe that Jones will as well.