Getty
Chiefs DT Chris Jones
As the Kansas City Chiefs brace for an offseason full of difficult financial decisions, one name continues to surface in trade speculation… Chris Jones.
And with Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles never shying away from calculated bets in the trenches, it’s not hard to see why the Bears are being mentioned as a potential landing spot for the three-time Super Bowl champion.
Jones will turn 32 before the start of training camp, and his overall game is no longer as dominant as it once was. His run defense has taken a noticeable dip, but when it comes to interior pressure Jones remains among the league’s elite.
In 2025, Jones posted:
- 29 tackles
- 7 sacks
- 12 tackles for loss
- 25 quarterback hits
- 63 total pressures
PFF graded him as the second best pass-rushing defensive tackle in 2025 right behind Jeffrey Simmons, with a pass rush grade of 90.7.
Even with declining sack totals compared to his prime, Jones continues to wreck pockets… That’s where Chicago’s interest becomes logical.
A familiar Ryan Poles blueprint
GettyChiefs DT Chris Jones
GM Ryan Poles has shown a willingness to trade for veteran trench players when the value aligns. Last offseason, he executed a similar move by acquiring Joe Thuney, buying low on an aging but still highly effective interior lineman. A Chris Jones trade would be nearly the same thing (and funny enough, he’s from the same team too).
A Montez Sweat – Chris Jones pairing would force offenses to pick their poison. Slide protection inside and Sweat wins more one on ones. Focus on the edge, and Jones collapses the pocket from the middle.
There’s no sugarcoating the biggest obstacle… Money.
If the Chiefs traded Jones as his contract is currently structured, the acquiring team would absorb roughly a $35 million cap hit, a number that includes base salary and a hefty roster bonus. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a 32 year old defensive tackle whose run defense is trending downward.
Kansas City could convert the roster bonus into a signing bonus before a trade. Or the Chicago Bears could immediately rework Jones’ deal after acquiring him. Without a restructure, it’s hard to imagine Poles signing off on that number.
What would it cost?
GettyChiefs DT Chris Jones
Jones is no longer commanding first or second round pick value. Around the league, the expectation is that his market would top out around a Day 2 selection, potentially a third round pick, depending on how much salary the acquiring team takes on.
For Chicago, that’s a reasonable gamble if the contract can be managed. Poles has consistently valued draft capital, but he’s also shown that he’ll part with it for players who can immediately raise the team’s ceiling.
Sure Chris Jones isn’t the player he was at his absolute peak… But he’s still an interior pass rusher who has the ability to change the game. For the Chicago Bears, the idea of pairing him with Montez Sweat would be a high risk, high reward move, and one that only works if the financial pieces fall into place. And given Ryan Poles’ track record and the Chiefs’ looming cap crunch, it’s a scenario that shouldn’t be dismissed.
Sometimes, contenders let go of great players a year too early. The Bears may be watching closely to see if Chris Jones becomes the next opportunity to strike.
Garrett Klaus Garrett Klaus is a NFL contributor at Heavy.com, where he covers the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Carolina Panthers. More about Garrett Klaus
More Heavy on Bears
Loading more stories
