Chiefs trading Chris Jones to Seahawks isn’t as crazy as it seems
By John Buhler
Could the Kansas City Chiefs trade Chris Jones to the Seattle Seahawks?
The clock is ticking on Chris Jones getting a new contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs slapped the franchise tag on their Pro Bowl defensive tackle back in March. Kansas City has until July 15 to put a new deal in place for the best player on their defense. Otherwise, he’ll have to play out the 2020 NFL season on the tag. If that happens, he’s not coming back to Kansas City on a new contract. The Chiefs have to pay other guys and he’ll be too expensive for them.
Chiefs general manager needs to pay Jones first and before July 15 because otherwise he’s gone. Kansas City has to pay superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes soon. The Chiefs’ brass may also want to get out ahead of George Kittle’s mega deal coming with the San Francisco 49ers. If Kittle gets paid before tight end Travis Kelce gets a new deal in place, Kelce will be gone in two years.
The Chiefs have the second-worst salary cap situation in the league at only $3,574,461. The defending Super Bowl champions have been having their cake and eating it too, but if Veach can’t get a long-term deal done with Jones in the next month, they just might be better off trading him. But who could the Chiefs trade him to? The best spot has to be the Seattle Seahawks.
What would a Chris Jones trade to the Seattle Seahawks look like?
Alistair Corp of Field Gulls outlined a ton of reasons why Jones to the Seahawks would be a great fit for both parties should it come down to this. Jones could be the Seahawks’ version of what the Los Angeles Rams have in Aaron Donald, a disruptive interior force who will make life difficult for the opposing quarterbacks in his new division in Jimmy Garoppolo, Jared Goff and Kyler Murray.
The Seahawks would probably have to send defensive tackle Jarran Reed back Kansas City’s way, as he’d be a cheaper, albeit a lesser version of Jones. Then again, Reed played at a more dominant SEC West program at Alabama than Jones did at Mississippi State. Trading Jones to Seattle would free up some much-needed money for the Chiefs, as well gaining a quality player in Reed in return.
The other thing to keep in mind is Veach and Seahawks general manager John Schneider orchestrated a blockbuster trade last year over a similar situation. Seattle used the franchise tag on defensive end Frank Clark, but ended up sending him to the Chiefs ahead of last season. Could we have another Kansas City/Seattle deal on our hands in a few weeks’ time? Don’t rule it out.
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Schematically, Jones would be a terrific fit along Seattle’s defensive line. Because the Chiefs and Seahawks don’t play in the same conference, they wouldn’t face each other this year unless they were to meet down in Tampa for Super Bowl 55, which is totally in play. The Seahawks need to replace Jadeveon Clowney and the Chiefs need to figure out what they’re doing with Jones soon.
It sounds nuts, but it wouldn’t be shocking if Jones went to Seattle if he can’t net a long-term deal.