Brett Veach prioritizing re-signing Chris Jones, L'Jarius Sneed

[RunKC]

What some of us have been wondering...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said he is aware of the challenge the organization faces in re-signing both defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed but said it would be an offseason priority to get both players under new contracts.

"Sometimes I look at our situation and I'm like, 'I don't know how we're going to do this,' but we usually work through things systematically and have a list of the priorities,'' Veach said as the Chiefs continued preparations for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. "Certainly, Chris and LJ are at the top of the list.

"It's extremely hard because you have two keystone players there.''

Jones, 29, has been one of the NFL's top pass-rushers for years. He had 10.5 sacks this season to tie for the team lead after missing training camp and the first regular-season game while holding out for a new contract.

He didn't get the extension he was looking for, but the Chiefs sweetened the final season of his existing contract.

"It was important for us to mend the fences with Chris because we love him and he's an iconic player here, not just here, but I mean of all time,'' Veach said. "That was important for us, and we'll continue to work hard and see if we can get something done, but it will be a priority for us.''

The Chiefs used Sneed, 27, this season to defend against the opponent's top receiver much of the time, and none had big games against him.

Jones and Sneed are key players for an improved Chiefs defense that allowed fewer points than all but one other team during the regular season and held the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens to 41 total points in the playoffs.

The Chiefs had defenses that were at times competitive since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018, but rarely were they consistently so. Veach and the Chiefs found the task of building a top defense difficult because the past few seasons they were carrying Mahomes' massive contract.

"I still remember in '17 and '18 just saying if we can just get them to punt just once we've got a shot,'' Veach said. "Now all of a sudden it's like all we've got to do is just score once and we're good.

"Going from where we were in '17 and '18 to having one of the best defenses, knowing the constraints we had of just paying [Mahomes] and probably drafting later [in rounds], I don't think I ever envisioned having a top one or two defense.''

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-ljarius-sneed

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

You feel the same way about all of those billionaires and CEOs making millions as well?

I guess I missed the post where people were saying CEO's are underpaid and need to get their $ now while they can.

I've never seen anyone defend CEO salaries like they do NFL players. But much like NFL players its all about what the market will pay.

[blake5676]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

I'm speaking from actual experience you chode. I literally work with several former players and they all still train and lift and do athletic shit at high levels. They aren't the ****ing walking wounded.

Second, the whole "they are paying for their family family" blah blah, dude . No family linage needs 100 million dollars to "get by". And second, all the players I talk to have been smart with their money and don't feel like their NFL careers were meant to setup their great grandkids for prosperity.

You're just repeating a bunch of nonsense most of you who just jerk off online to this stuff do. Stay in your lane and pipe down.

I have no idea what you do for a living but I would venture to guess your "small sample size" is no different than the number of examples of the guys who've blown their brains out due to CTE or those who are now selling cars at the local Toyota dealership trading on their old fame/name.

The fact you are assuming how much money ANYONE needs is idiotic and no amount of puffing out your chest or claiming "you know guys" changes that.

Your argument essentially boils down to you thinking that you know better what someone else needs than they do themselves. I know a couple countries you could move to that share that philosophy.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

No dragging it out with Chris Jones this offseason would be my hope.

Either he is willing to work with the Chiefs to stay or if he is intent on getting $30+ million AAV then the Chiefs can move on.

Oh there's no way it'll drag out.

With the money he's seeking, he'll have to get it in the first few days of FA or it'll dry up. Teams don't leave that kind of cap space just lying around into June.

There's going to be a fairly fast resolution here, IMO.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Oh there's no way it'll drag out.

With the money he's seeking, he'll have to get it in the first few days of FA or it'll dry up. Teams don't leave that kind of cap space just lying around into June.

There's going to be a fairly fast resolution here, IMO.

How fast? This week?

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

This is something that comes up that never makes ****ing sense to me.

"He has to get that money while he can."

WHAT MONEY? HOW MUCH?

Anyone on the planet should be able to live out their life with 5 million in the bank if they just aren't out buying dumb shit on the daily like Iverson did.

So I wish people would about this when these dudes make enough in one season to last for them and their grandkids lives.

Seriously. Who knows how much Pat even makes from just endorsements alone. Kelsey is worth over 100 million. Pat has to already have that.

So why is this even a discussion in here? I've never understood these convos.

I feel like if you are in your 20s you would need at least 10M. If you are under the assumption you would never make any money ever again.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I guess I missed the post where people were saying CEO's are underpaid and need to get their $ now while they can.

I've never seen anyone defend CEO salaries like they do NFL players. But much like NFL players its all about what the market will pay.

Wouldn't you want to get what you're worth while you can? Especially in an industry when one freak injury (see Dre Greenlaw) could impact that?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

How fast? This week?

First 72 hours of FA would be my guess.

So no, not THAT fast...

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

This is something that comes up that never makes ****ing sense to me.

"He has to get that money while he can."

WHAT MONEY? HOW MUCH?

Anyone on the planet should be able to live out their life with 5 million in the bank if they just aren't out buying dumb shit on the daily like Iverson did.

So I wish people would about this when these dudes make enough in one season to last for them and their grandkids lives.

Seriously. Who knows how much Pat even makes from just endorsements alone. Kelsey is worth over 100 million. Pat has to already have that.

So why is this even a discussion in here? I've never understood these convos.

As much as they can while they can. It doesn't matter what you or I think is a satisfactory amount. It's like trying to negotiate your next salary... are you okay having the employer dictate the offer or are you going to try to negotiate the offer? Are you not going to negotiate perks?

If an employer comes at me with 70k and I know the job is worth 100k, I'm pushing for that 100k or more. And then somewhere you will settle. Once that's settled, I'm pushing for the perks. I'm not waiting 5 years for 3 weeks vacation. I want 3 weeks negotiated in at the start. I'm not paying for my hotels, the company is. I don't want to pay for my vehicle, the company can. I'm pushing for those things because if they want you bad enough they'll find a way to make it work. And maybe you come to a concession on some of it.

And when I walk away with a company truck to use, company-paid hotels and meals when I have to work onsite, remote the rest, unlimited PTO, and a 85k salary now we're talking, right? And now I want some guarantee of more than cost of living raises, so I'm negotiating that for a set number of years. So I ask for 5% plus COL for the first 3 years. And I've done this, and it's worth it.

And so when you look at these NFL players, are they not doing the same thing? In their case they want more guaranteed money, they want more up front. Why? Because who knows what the next bag will be or if there will be one. Get it while they can get it. It's alot harder to go back to the table after the deal is done.

The difference might not be living but how well you're living. I can do alot more with 85k and no vehicle payment than i can with 70k and a vehicle payment. They can do alot more with 15 million than they can with 5. It's all relative.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I'm not trying to shit on anyone's parade but you just have to look at the mathematics and reality of the situation in some way and realize it's just not overly feasible to keep both Sneed and Jones. You can only back-end so much money in reality on a deal. You can only ignore so much when it comes to the other FAs you have to sign/re-sign.

I posted already that you can get 28.7 by fullying pushing Mahomes' 35.9m roster bonus into signing bonus (1/5th will still end up on this year's cap). If you keep Jones, you just ate up the bulk of that. So basically, call that Jones + 2024 In-Season Operating Cash.

Everything else you do from that point is reliant upon the cap space you already know that you have, which is approximately 24m + 12m for cutting MVS. Now, maybe you can manage something with Omenihu and pick up around 5m there. You aren't gaining much in probably much of anything else you do and then there are things you just don't want to do like pushing money with Thuney or Kelce.

Now, a segment of the money you have is going to sign your draft class. Right now our rookie pool is 8.3m with a top-51 valuation somewhere around 2.8m So let's just call a minimum of 3m is going to be added to our cap liabilities so now you are at about 33m in space.

You have 5 ERFAs and you usually keep those because they are cheap. So take off 4.5m for those guys. You're at 28.5m.

You have 19 other UFA/RFA players. Every UFA pretty much costs 1.1m or more. If you are counting our draft picks to take over some of those spots, then you need to sign 13 players, at least. That automatically has you down to 14m in remaining cap IF you were only signing vet min guys to fill those 13 holes. Now, we all know you aren't going to spend only vet min on every single one.

So, how are you finding a way to fit one of the best CBs in the league in there? The truth is, you're probably not. Sneed would have to take a massive first-year discount on his contract and backload the deal. Essentially he'd be making his signing bonus this year. What do you think his odds are of upping that if he hits the market? I bet they are more than good.

You aren't franchising Sneed either. That hit is 18.4m.

It's keep Jones or keep Sneed and maybe bolster some other spots a bit more. You have to pick your poison. It's really that simple.

The only way keeping Jones works is IF KC adds some significant void years (say it's a $30M signing bonus with 2 void years; you could then structure something like 24 - $23M; 25 - $28M; 26 - $28M and with the signing bonus give him 3/$91M).

That COULD be done. And with a max Mahomes restructure and cutting Omenihu and Valdes-Scantling, extending Reid, and giving Sneed 4/$82M, you're still in decent operating shape for 2024.

With those moves and tendering the ERFA, signing Tranquill to a 2-year deal in his price range, and not doing anything else other than the Mahomes roster bonus restructure, I'm at about $33M in space. That would be enough to sign the rookies, clearly, and also make a 1-2 medium moves in FA (a Curtis Samuel type at WR, for example).

It would put you in VERY rough shape in 2025.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The only way keeping Jones works is IF KC adds some significant void years (say it's a $30M signing bonus with 2 void years; you could then structure something like 24 - $23M; 25 - $28M; 26 - $28M and with the signing bonus give him 3/$91M).

That COULD be done. And with a max Mahomes restructure and cutting Omenihu and Valdes-Scantling, extending Reid, and giving Sneed 4/$82M, you're still in decent operating shape for 2024.

With those moves and tendering the ERFA, signing Tranquill to a 2-year deal in his price range, and not doing anything else other than the Mahomes roster bonus restructure, I'm at about $33M in space. That would be enough to sign the rookies, clearly, and also make a 1-2 medium moves in FA (a Curtis Samuel type at WR, for example).

It would put you in VERY rough shape in 2025.

I would take the opposite route with Omenihu. I would extend him instead of cut him. Get his cap hit down this next year and add a couple of years onto his deal. He flourished in this defense and I'd want him back when he's healthy.

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

I'm speaking from actual experience you chode. I literally work with several former players and they all still train and lift and do athletic shit at high levels. They aren't the ****ing walking wounded.

Second, the whole "they are paying for their family family" blah blah, dude . No family linage needs 100 million dollars to "get by". And second, all the players I talk to have been smart with their money and don't feel like their NFL careers were meant to setup their great grandkids for prosperity.

You're just repeating a bunch of nonsense most of you who just jerk off online to this stuff do. Stay in your lane and pipe down.

So by your logic: From a homeless persons perspective - they should be more than satisfied making a VERY COMFORTABLE lifestyle salary of, $100k/year because that's all they should ever "need"?

There's levels to this shit. Your lifestyle isn't their lifestyle. So what, they may want to buy a $3m car or wear a $250K chain and buy multiple mansions. I'm sure you have unnecessarily expensive guilty pleasures as well that less fortunate people think is overkill.

Just because, "you know a guy(s)" doesn't mean anyone else's perspective/perceptions isn't valid.

[kccrow]

When I modeled a Chris Jones contract for estimative purposes in throwing together mocks, I put two void years into it. It's really hard to share so I attached an image of my spreadsheet...

In any event, its 3/84 + 1.0m/yr 10+ sack bonus and 1.0m/yr Super Bowl appearance bonus. Those would likely be seen as "likely to be earned" at this juncture so they are added to the cap number.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I feel like if you are in your 20s you would need at least 10M. If you are under the assumption you would never make any money ever again.

10 million?

How can a person make it on only 300-500k in interest per year? Ramen?

[notorious]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

No dragging it out with Chris Jones this offseason would be my hope.

Either he is willing to work with the Chiefs to stay or if he is intent on getting $30+ million AAV then the Chiefs can move on.

I see what you did there.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

I would take the opposite route with Omenihu. I would extend him instead of cut him. Get his cap hit down this next year and add a couple of years onto his deal. He flourished in this defense and I'd want him back when he's healthy.

Yeah, I like him a bunch. I'm all for extending hm if Jones walks. But if they're keeping Jones, Omenihu seems like more of a luxury than a need to me.