The Detroit Lions discovered a rising star in edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but struggled last season to generate a consistent pass rush outside of the second-year pro.
That could change this summer, with the Lions being reported a major contender for Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones as he enters free agency. Jones returned to the Chiefs on a one-year agreement last season after signing a $80-million contract in 2020, and he helped them win their second Super Bowl title in a row.
According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay, Jones might return to Detroit next season if the Lions are ready to match his large projected asking price.
Chris Jones: The Final Piece in Detroit
Kay highlighted that the Lions fell just short of making the Super Bowl after blowing a 17-point lead against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. The game showed the team’s defensive flaws, which Kay believes “superstar” Jones can help rectify.
“While his services will be pricy, there is no question that Jones would have a tremendous impact on Detroit’s ability to both get after opposing quarterbacks and shut down the run,” Kay stated in an email. “The five-time Pro Bowler would make an especially excellent partner for 2022’s No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson, who has started his career red-hot with 21 sacks over his first two seasons.”
Last offseason, the Lions hoped to make significant upgrades to their secondary, signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley before both suffered long-term injuries. Kay stated that the Lions made progress in improving their defence, but they still finished in the lowest half of the league in both total and scoring defence.
Adding Jones would significantly improve their pass rush, but it would also be too pricey, Kay noted.
Chris Jones Headed to Massive Deal
Jones would be a significant commitment for the Lions, despite having $48 million in cap space. Kay predicted that the five-time Pro Bowler could be in contention for the largest total contract and most guaranteed dollars for a defensive player in league history, while Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News predicted that Jones would sign a four-year, $140 million contract with at least $100 million in guaranteed money.
The Lions would also have to persuade Jones to leave the Chiefs, who are still considered a strong contender for him. The 29-year-old is coming off one of the greatest seasons of his career, with 10.5 sacks and 30 total tackles in 16 games this season, earning first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career.
While the Lions may be in a position to make a substantial investment, general manager Brad Holmes has emphasized that the team would not go all-in for a chance at the Super Bowl.
“I don’t want anybody to think that this was a one-shot, Cinderella, magical journey that just happened,” Holmes said at the team’s season-ending press conference, according to The Associated Press. “No, that is real. This is exactly what was intended to happen.
“I realize that based on history and what has happened in the past, I understand that when you have a season like this, it’s easy to feel like this was a one-time, magical, lucky, adorable narrative, which I’m sick of hearing. There was none of that.”
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