INDIANAPOLIS — They are certainly first-world problems to have in the NFL: how to keep great players instead of how to find them.
"If he's here, he's a great football player," Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. "Why wouldn't I want him here?"
The he in that sentence is Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, set to become a free agent in March if the Chiefs don't franchise tag him or sign him to a new deal.
"It's certainly a priority for us," said Chiefs general manager Brett Veach. "Sometimes these things take some time to work through."
Tuesday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Veach said he had scheduled a meeting with Jones' agent in the next couple days and that talks have been ongoing.
"The franchise tag is something that we have the ability to use," Veach said. "We'd certainly like to see if we can work something out with him."
Franchising Jones would cost the team roughly $16 million. A long-term deal could cost well over $100 million over the next five to six years.
"I understand the business and how it goes," Reid said. "I told the guys, 'I'd like to keep everybody together.'"
Jones has 24.5 sacks for the Chiefs the past two seasons. In 2018, he was named Second-Team All-Pro. This season he was selected to the Pro Bowl.
