Another young defensive lineman is holding out from mandatory minicamp.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is not present with the team today as minicamp opens, and is not expected to attend the three-day session, per sources informed of the situation.
Per Rapoport, contract negotiations between the Chiefs and the star defensive tackle have stalled, leading to the holdout.
Jones skipped all of the voluntary portions of offseason workouts hoping for a new deal. Without one, he'll skip the mandatory portion as well. As with all players under contract, Jones is subject to fines of $88,650 for missing mandatory minicamp, per the CBA. Fines are at the team's discretion.
A 2016 second-round pick, Jones is set to earn just $1.2 million in base salary. As one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, he's woefully underpaid. The 24-year-old is coming off a 15.5-sack season as a game-wrecker on the interior. He has generated 24 sacks in his first three seasons.
With the Chiefs moving to a 4-3 front under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulolo, Jones could be an even bigger penetrating force in 2019. First, K.C. must settle his contract situation.
