Andy Reid: “We’ve had some good communication” with Chris Jones

“Working for something that‘s good for Chris and also good for the Chiefs.”

After the Kansas City Chiefs had made their fifth and final (or so we thought at the time) selection of this year’s draft, Andy Reid took some time out to talk to ESPN’s Trey Wingo as part of their coverage of this year’s virtual draft.

Speaking from his home, Reid was asked about the contract situation with Chris Jones — specifically about Reid’s and the Chiefs’ level of confidence in “working something out.”

REID: “We’ve had some good communication with him. Brett’s done a great job with his group of guys who work with our cap, and are trying to work that out, so that we can keep everybody together. Chris has done a nice job with his representatives on their side — and we’ll, you know they’re working to get something that works — (something) that’s good for Chris and also good for the Chiefs — we appreciate that.”

Reid’s answer was more or less in line with what Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach told us on April 16.

“We’ve had a lot of discussion with Chris and the Katz brothers (Jones’ agents), and we continue to have that,” said Veach. “We’ve got a lot of time, certainly these are — it’s a unique environment in which we’re working with, and we were able to kind of navigate the free agency period and retain some guys. We’re going to work through the draft and we’re going to continue dialogue. But we know how talented Chris is, and I think the franchise tag speaks for it, and we also have a lot of time.”

The good news is that there is clearly some dialogue happening. Obviously, the Chiefs want to keep Jones in town and the feeling appears to be mutual. The challenge for the Chiefs is finding the right balance with the cap — especially as talks are set to begin with Patrick Mahomes over a new contract.

Chris Jones wasn’t the only player discussed in the four-minute interview. Wingo was keen to ask Reid about whether the selection of Clyde Edwards-Helaire is perfect for the Chiefs offense.

REID: “He is. He’s a great kid and such a special football player. You saw what he did with the national champs this past year — and you talk to the different people there and they tell you what a great competitor he is - and you know, what he lacks in size, he’s got in heart and work ethic. We sure welcome him to the Chiefs — we’re excited to put him in this offense and cut him loose.”

The Chiefs are certainly not the only team that are loading up on speed and talent on the offensive side of the ball — AFC West rivals the Broncos and the Raiders added several offensive players themselves this weekend. Reid was asked about how closely an eye he keeps on what other teams in division are doing.

REID: Yeah, absolutely. I thought they did a great job. I thought all three of them just racked some heck of (a) players that will make it better. We’re all in this for the competition — so the better each team is, the better and the greater the excitement is. Every week we spend so much time getting ready to play, and to scheme, and to do all these things — you just love the ultimate challenge each week.

It would be hard to argue that the switch in these team’s philosophies is down to the firing power that the Chiefs possess. After being blown out by the Chiefs twice last season, the Raiders’ and Broncos’ plan is to fight fire with fire. Reid was asked if that was a reoccurring theme that he noticed?

REID: “Well I understand that. That’s kinda the name of the game — whoever scores the most points wins. I get it — and we’ve been blessed to have some good players — and I know these other teams are doing the same thing, I get that too, We had to add a few defensive guys on top of the offensive guys, so that we can handle all these good players these other guys have got.”

“Whoever scores the most points wins” sounds like such a simple game. If the Chiefs do manage to close out a deal with Chris Jones, that will be easier said than done for their opponents.