KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 22: Defensive end Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts against the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt confirmed earlier this week that a long-term extension with Chris Jones is still in the works.

For the members of Chiefs Kingdom wondering why in the world Chris Jones is still scheduled to technically be an unrestricted free agent after this season, the Kansas City Chiefs made it clear as ever that they don’t anticipate that being the case when the rubber meets the road. Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt spoke earlier this week and reiterated his intention to bring back Jones on a long-term deal to keep him on the team “for many years to come.”

“There have been ongoing discussions with Chris’s representatives,” said Hunt. “As I mentioned in the preseason, we’re very hopeful that we can extend Chris’s contract and bring him back to Kansas City for many years to come. He’s obviously a fantastic player, a great guy in the locker room, and we’re glad to have him part of the Chiefs.”

The posture of both team and player was made clear last offseason when Jones, the team’s star defensive tackle, made it clear how much he loved the city and the team. The Chiefs reciprocated in various remarks and leaked rumors, going as far back as last January when the Chiefs reportedly were preparing to bring both Tyreek Hill and Jones back to K.C. under long-term contracts. Hill’s deal took about nine months to finish and Jones is still waiting.

Jones and the Chiefs officially began negotiations on a new deal soon thereafter and Brett Veach, the team’s general manager admitted as much back in March. However the word on those same negotiations was that talks had stalled by July. In fact, Jones was reportedly considering a holdout from training camp until the last second, when he showed up in the hopes that the goodwill displayed might kickstart contract talks once again.

The Chiefs transitioned away from Bob Sutton’s defensive schemes to Steve Spagnuolo’s earlier this year for the first time. The Chiefs’ might have been waiting to see whether or not Jones would be the same sort of disruptive player under Spags as he was in years past. Fortunately for the Chiefs, Jones looks as dominant as ever.

“I think he’s played extremely well,” said Hunt. “He’s transitioned to the new defensive scheme, I think, very well and has been a part of the success we’ve had in improving the defense.”

Jones is wrapping up his rookie deal, a four-year contract worth just over $6 million established with the rookie slotting system. Jones stands to make as much as $20 million annually on a new deal depending on how the numbers fall.