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PHOENIX — You can bet a couple million dollars that Giants defensive end Dexter Lawrence and Jets defensive end Quinnen Williams would want to see Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones continue to advocate for a new NFL position.
Jones, who is regarded as one of the best interior pass rushers in the league, occasionally moves to the edge of the defensive line to maximize his flexible skill set.
“We must make a difference. I’d like to convert that to hybrid,” Jones said prior to the 2023 Super Bowl versus the Eagles. “Hybrid defensive lineman are capable of playing both inside and outside. I must discuss this matter with the NFL Players Association. We must alter our position.”
Lawrence, who led the Giants in sacks with 7.5, and Williams, who led the Jets in sacks with 12, are two defensive linemen who do not quarrel. Both first-time Pro Bowlers and All-Pros (First Team for Williams and Second Team for Lawrence) are under team-friendly fifth-year options until 2023.
Williams has threatened to abstain from springtime volunteer activities if he does not sign a new multiyear extension by then. Lawrence told The Post late in the season that he wants to play for the Giants for the rest of his career, but he is less open about his contract demands and negotiating strategies.
“I hope they decimate the market,” Jones added. “They have performed admirably for their respective teams. This year, Dexter Lawrence performed an outstanding job. [Titanic’s] Jeffery Simmons has long been a stud. What Quinnen Williams has accomplished in New York with his snaps is absurd. I believe those men deserve a paycheck. I hope they reset and maintain the market. That’s the whole point.”
Jones’ average annual pay of $20 million on a four-year contract ranks third, behind future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s unbreakable $31.6 million average with the Rams and DeForest Buckner’s $22 million average with the Colts. Jones, who set his career-high with 15.5 sacks this season and added two more in the AFC Championship Game, could be seeking a new contract in 2023 as opposed to playing out his walk year.
Add Commanders’ unrestricted free agent DaRon Payne to Jones, Simmons, Lawrence, and Williams as potential contract-seekers, and it’s easy to see why analysts anticipate the elite defensive tackle market will soon reach $25 million per year.
The need for a change in positions goes beyond mere semantics. It involves a monetary disparity.
The average of the top five salary cap hits at different positions over the past five years – also known as the amount of the franchise tag designation in 2023 – reveals $20.9 million for linebackers (including stand-up 3-4 edge rushers), $19.7 million for defensive ends, and $18.7 million for defensive tackles.
“We have a lot of good defensive tackles in this league, so I try to watch their games and learn from them,” Jones said.