Brett Veach prioritizing re-signing Chris Jones, L'Jarius Sneed

[RunKC]

What some of us have been wondering...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said he is aware of the challenge the organization faces in re-signing both defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed but said it would be an offseason priority to get both players under new contracts.

"Sometimes I look at our situation and I'm like, 'I don't know how we're going to do this,' but we usually work through things systematically and have a list of the priorities,'' Veach said as the Chiefs continued preparations for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. "Certainly, Chris and LJ are at the top of the list.

"It's extremely hard because you have two keystone players there.''

Jones, 29, has been one of the NFL's top pass-rushers for years. He had 10.5 sacks this season to tie for the team lead after missing training camp and the first regular-season game while holding out for a new contract.

He didn't get the extension he was looking for, but the Chiefs sweetened the final season of his existing contract.

"It was important for us to mend the fences with Chris because we love him and he's an iconic player here, not just here, but I mean of all time,'' Veach said. "That was important for us, and we'll continue to work hard and see if we can get something done, but it will be a priority for us.''

The Chiefs used Sneed, 27, this season to defend against the opponent's top receiver much of the time, and none had big games against him.

Jones and Sneed are key players for an improved Chiefs defense that allowed fewer points than all but one other team during the regular season and held the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens to 41 total points in the playoffs.

The Chiefs had defenses that were at times competitive since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018, but rarely were they consistently so. Veach and the Chiefs found the task of building a top defense difficult because the past few seasons they were carrying Mahomes' massive contract.

"I still remember in '17 and '18 just saying if we can just get them to punt just once we've got a shot,'' Veach said. "Now all of a sudden it's like all we've got to do is just score once and we're good.

"Going from where we were in '17 and '18 to having one of the best defenses, knowing the constraints we had of just paying [Mahomes] and probably drafting later [in rounds], I don't think I ever envisioned having a top one or two defense.''

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-ljarius-sneed

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by O.city

The tag is 32 million

So the chiefs CAN tag him but they pretty much can’t financially

Is it? It probably dropped some with his holdouts. The little over 4 million he earned in incentives to make up for it don't count, IIRC. So it may be more like 28 million.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Many people said that the new contract Jones signed for this year negated the Chiefs ability to tag him. Apparently not.

I can’t remember anyone saying that.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I can’t remember anyone saying that.

Go back and read the thread. Many were speculating it. Nothing concrete though.

[Urc Burry]

Sounds like Omenihu is hoping for an early extension. I’d sign up for that

Didn’t have a full season and put up numbers. Does that go unnoticed? Might have to do it again to get what I want at the end.

— Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) February 17, 2024

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Sounds like Omenihu is hoping for an early extension. I’d sign up for that

Didn’t have a full season and put up numbers. Does that go unnoticed? Might have to do it again to get what I want at the end.

— Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) February 17, 2024

This needs to be done ASAP.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Sounds like Omenihu is hoping for an early extension. I’d sign up for that

Didn’t have a full season and put up numbers. Does that go unnoticed? Might have to do it again to get what I want at the end.

— Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) February 17, 2024

Makes no sense to do so.

We just spent 2 1st round draft picks on DL on the last 2 years.

We have only 1 drafted 1 playable WR in the last 6 years.

Time to unleash the greatest QB weapon in NFL history.

[poolboy]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Sounds like Omenihu is hoping for an early extension. I’d sign up for that

Didn’t have a full season and put up numbers. Does that go unnoticed? Might have to do it again to get what I want at the end.

— Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) February 17, 2024

Cmon Charles, we noticed....availability is the key

[RunKC]

Yeah I think Omenihu gonna want to add a year onto his deal. His situation sucks

[Urc Burry]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Makes no sense to do so.

We just spent 2 1st round draft picks on DL on the last 2 years.

We have only 1 drafted 1 playable WR in the last 6 years.

Time to unleash the greatest QB weapon in NFL history.

Past draft have little to do with this. Omenihu is the first guy that can get a reliable pressure from the inside since we’ve had Jones. And we have no idea of Jones will be on this team in a couple weeks.

Given the circumstances I think adding on to his deal could add extreme value. If he plays a full season like he did this year he’s going to be pushing for close to 20 mil/yr

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

No, they’re not. They’re not going through the hold out again.

And a $30 million cap hold.

I don't think either guy walks but they're absolutely going to tag Sneed. Because using it on Jones is a non-starter and you can't risk having it go unused. It's too valuable an asset in situations EXACTLY like Sneed's.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

And a $30 million cap hold.

I don't think either guy walks but they're absolutely going to tag Sneed. Because using it on Jones is a non-starter and you can't risk having it go unused. It's too valuable an asset in situations EXACTLY like Sneed's.

What is Sneeds tag number?

[DRM08]

Originally Posted by BWillie

What is Sneeds tag number?

$18-19M. He has been paid chump change in his career, so I don’t think Sneed could afford to attempt a holdout if they use the tag on him.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brioni

What the **** does that have to do woth what I said?

Oh come on.

The inference is how bad of shape the team will be if star player X who made all of these these key plays (which you listed some) isn't resigned.

There were plenty of key plays that Hill made too, but that doesn't mean it was the best use of limited resources to have meet his salary demands...

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DRM08

$18-19M. He has been paid chump change in his career, so I don’t think Sneed could afford to attempt a holdout if they use the tag on him.

Gotta tag him then. Then pay McDuffie later.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DRM08

$18-19M. He has been paid chump change in his career, so I don’t think Sneed could afford to attempt a holdout if they use the tag on him.

Yup.

The tag was never designed to be used on guys looking for a 3rd deal; that 25% kicker makes it prohibitive and of little value to the team. There's next to no surplus to be created by dropping a $30+ million tag on Jones - it would be akin to hostage taking and little else.

It's designed for the exactly the situation the Chiefs face with Sneed. No real risk he holds out. Plenty surplus value created and a fair bit of leverage even in trying to work on a long-term deal.

It just doesn't make any sense at all to tag Jones. It makes ALL the sense in the world to tag Sneed.