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There will likely be a ton of expertise accessible in NFL free company, which begins on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. Nevertheless, there appears to be a consensus high upcoming free agent and Professional Soccer Focus believes two groups are poised to land him.
PFF’s Brad Spielberger named the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders as landing spots for Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones.
The five-time Professional Bowler is PFF’s high free agent this offseason after posting 74 tackles, 26 sacks and two pressured fumbles over the previous two seasons. Jones has been a key piece to Kansas Metropolis’s protection, serving to the crew win three Tremendous Bowls prior to now 5 years.
The Chiefs may very properly re-sign the 29-year-old due to the NFL elevating the wage cap by an unprecedented $30 million.
Nevertheless, Jones shouldn’t be anticipated to obtain the franchise tag, which might be value $32 million as a substitute of the common $19.7M, in keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. If the 2 sides are unable to succeed in an settlement on a brand new deal, the Bears or Raiders might be the benefactors.
Each groups are among the many high 10 groups with the most salary cap space and Spielberger thinks every has argument for making a run at Jones if he had been to hit the open market.
“The Bears might not be seeking to make this huge of a splash, and common supervisor Ryan Poles has usually prioritized spending on youthful gamers, however we would be remiss if we did not make this connection,” Spielberger writes. “The lacking piece to Chicago’s ascending protection taking one other step is a confirmed inside move rusher.”
Chicago’s protection is actually a piece in progress. Defensive finish Montez Sweat led the crew in sacks (six) after becoming a member of it on the commerce deadline. Jones may give the Bears their first double-digit sack chief since Robert Quinn posted 18.5 sacks in 2021.
Las Vegas, however, may strengthen its protection, which was enjoying very properly over the second half of 2023.
“The Raiders’ protection completed the second half of the season on an absolute tear, however a number of key contributors on the inside defensive position are pending free brokers,” Spielberger writes. “A duo of Maxx Crosby and Chris Jones would instantly turn into one of many league’s greatest.”
Spielberger is true. Pairing Jones with Crosby may create one of the feared duos within the league. In fact, that is solely doable if their AFC West division rival lets Jones stroll.
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