Cross Chris Jones Off Your Bears Free Agency Wish List

The Chicago Bears will begin the 2024 NFL free-agency spending spree rich in cash and ready to add upgrades on both sides of the ball, including along the defensive line, where edge rusher Montez Sweat needs a running mate to get after the quarterback next season.

Unfortunately, one of the top defensive linemen who was slated to hit the open market just got wiped out.

The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a new five-year deal with superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones. The contract is expected to make Jones the highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

Chiefs and five-time Pro-Bowl DT Chris Jones reached agreement on a record 5-year deal that includes $95 million guaranteed and allows KC to keep its best defender before free agency begins, per his agents, @KatzBrosSports.

Deal is expected to be the highest average salary ever… pic.twitter.com/aRidQ0309z

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2024

While it's certainly a bummer that the Chicago Bears won't get a shot at convincing Jones to jump aboard the Matt Eberflus Express, it doesn't mean they're without options to improve the interior of the defense significantly.

Dolphins star Christian Wilkins won't be re-signed by Miami before the legal tampering window opens on March 11, and multiple reports have already suggested the Bears are interested in the big-bodied three-technique. Wilkins isn't quite the player Jones is, but he's definitely one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL.

Expect Poles to make a full-court press for the former first-round pick.