The Detroit Lions’ pursuit of a Super Bowl championship in 2024 will motivate them to take bold action during NFL free agency. With $54.2 million in salary cap room, the Lions could be able to add a big name. The source of this data is Spotrac. These elements led ESPN’s Aaron Schatz to identify defensive tackle Chris Jones as the Lions’ top target.
On March 1, Schatz named Jones as the main free agent the Lions must sign this offseason.
According to Schatz, Jones “ranked second among all defensive tackles in pass rush win rate (19.6%) and had the highest double-team rate (72%).” “If he is able to enter free agency, he would be a huge asset to the Lions’ defense and could be the difference-maker that finally gets them to the Super Bowl.”
Jones has concluded his first two seasons in a row with ten or more sacks. He matched his career highs in 2022 with 15.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits. Then, he recorded 10.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits in 2023 once more.
He was chosen for the first team All-Pro for the past two seasons. Jones has participated in five consecutive Pro Bowls as well.
According to Spotrac, Jones has made about $90.2 million in total over the course of his NFL career. Based on a three-year contract, Spotrac assessed his worth to be at $85.4 million this summer.
The majority of teams in the league would kill to have Jones on their roster.
Jones will be thirty in July, yet he has grown better with age. He has accumulated 67 sacks, 68 tackles for loss, and 152 quarterback hits in 91 games played since 2018. He also had eight forced fumbles and 26 pass defenses in that span.
The Lions’ defensive line already includes Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. Among these emerging stars is Hutchinson, who for the first time in 2023 recorded double-digit sacks.
But Hutchinson and McNeill were the only Lions defenders with more than three sacks during the prior season. Detroit requires an additional pass rusher.
With the addition of a standout defensive tackle like Jones, the Lions defense may potentially reach the championship level that the Detroit offense has been at the last two seasons.
The Lions tied for 23rd place in the NFL in terms of sacks during the previous campaign. They also ranked 27th in pass defense and 29th in net yards allowed per pass attempt.
Jones may be re-signed by the Kansas City Chiefs before the start of free agency. Jones may also receive the franchise tag from the Chiefs; however, on February 28, Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report revealed that the Chiefs have applied the tag to cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Only one player may be assigned to a franchise tag by an NFL team during the offseason. Before getting the chance to sign Jones, the Lions will need to wait and see whether he becomes available.
On February 28, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Chiefs have given Sneed permission to negotiate a trade.
Paradoxically, Sneed has been viewed as a possible trade partner for the Lions. However, it seems less likely that Kansas City would keep Jones if Sneed is not traded considering the enormous wages each player is anticipated to want this summer.
If Sneed plays in 2024 with the franchise tag attached, his cap hit will be $19.8 million.