Dexter Lawrence contract will have Chris Jones smile ear-to-ear

The Giants locked All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence into a lucrative new deal, further setting the market for the Chiefs and Chris Jones.

Dexter Lawrence just got paid, which is yet another good sign for Chris Jones as he awaits a new deal from the Chiefs.

Lawrence, who the Giants drafted with a pick they got in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2022, tallying 7.5 sacks, 28 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles in a career year for New York.

On Thursday, the Giants and Lawrence agreed to a four-year, $90 million extension with $60 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter. That makes him the third-highest paid defensive tackle in the league. But he’s only going to be ranked there briefly with an even bigger deal likely heading for Jones and others.

How the Dexter Lawrence deal impacts the Chiefs and Chris Jones

Lawrence joins Jeffery Simmons of the Titans and Daron Payne of the Commanders as DTs who landed major contracts in 2023. Simmons is getting $23.5 million per year on his deal while Lawrence and Payne are getting $22.5 per year on theirs.

The downside for Jones, and Quinnen Williams of the Jets who should also have a contract extension on the horizon, is that Lawrence and the others didn’t reset the DT market. No one has come close to the deal Aaron Donald got from the Rams, averaging $31.6 million per year.

Still, Lawrence was another domino falling ahead of Jones picking up a hefty contract extension from the Chiefs. He should expect to top Simmons’ money. And if Williams picks up a deal in that range, Jones should be above him too.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus speculated that Williams will get a contract of four years and $96 million with Jones going as high as $100 million over four years.

While Chiefs fans may be eager to see Jones get a new deal, they should expect to wait until Williams and the Jets work something out.