Jones vs. 1st Rounder + $20m
 

Obviously this is going to be a key discussion this offseason. On The Athletic's podcast (Time's Ours), Nate Taylor said that he's heard that there are multiple teams out there who would give us a 1st round pick for Jones (assuming we tag and trade him), and possibly more than that.

So just to lay out a simplified version of the options:

Option 1:
Chris Jones (probably around $20m per year)

Option 2:
1st round draft pick (cheap for 4-5 years)
$20m worth of other players

For context on how much other players might cost based on recent free agents we've signed:
Clark - $21m
Mathieu - $14m
Hitchens - $9m
Schwartz - $8m
Okafor - $6m

So...which way do we go?

As much as I love Jones, I just can't see how the Chiefs could turn down an offer for him like that. Putting 1/5th of the team's salary into the DL alone seems like it'd force other position groups to be far too weak. So while they theoretically COULD keep Jones, it seems like a better use of funds to let him go, draft a 1st round LBer or similar, and then pay a couple of key contributors in the secondary.

Keep Jones. Watch him and Clark wreck shit for 5 more years.

Said it in the other thread but I need at least what we got for Clark to move Jones. MAYBE a 1st and high 3rd rounder.

You can either have Chris Jones or what’s in the mystery box?

Chiefs fans: We’ve always wanted a Chris Jones but a mystery box could be anything. It could even be a Chris Jones!

I don't view it as a Jones or 20 million option as much as a Jones and an LDT/Watkins/Erving/Sorenson proposition. And I'll take Jones.

But we know that the box has at least $20m in it. That's the difference.

And you’re having to replace him.

I guess I'd just rather spread the money around. I'd gladly take a slightly worse DL for an improved LBer corps.

I know what I’m getting with Jones if retained. Arguably the best interior D-lineman in the league who consistently makes plays. A fan favourite who loves the city and has his best football in front of him.

I get the allure of a high pick and cap space, but the cap can be manipulated, and not many teams can brag having two elite d-lineman in Jones and Clark that affect the game so much. I prefer the Chiefs retain Jones on a long-term deal. Some cap relief lies ahead in 2021, where Mahomes and Jones’ extensions factor in. By 2021 Veach will have a full complement of picks + arguably some compensatory picks to reload the roster.

Slightly worse? Did you see the drop off in interior pressure against the Texans?

If you can get a good haul, sure.

But i'd expect not to hear you guys who want to trade him and such to not bitch when said rookie DL they draft isn't as good and gets washed out while he learns the position.

We got 5 sacks in that game...

We got 5 sacks against a team that has a suspect line and a QB that was known for taking sacks.

I think we should probably credit our offense with a few of those sacks.....