Report: Chiefs' Jones absent from offseason program ahead of contract year

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has not been in attendance for the team's voluntary offseason workout program, which started April 15, sources told Yahoo Sports' Terez Paylor.

Jones is heading into the last season of his rookie contract and is coming off a breakout 15.5-sack season. He's scheduled to make $1.2 million in base salary.

The Chiefs are switching to a 4-3 defense under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and have said that Jones will remain a key piece of the unit.

Fletcher Cox of the Philadelphia Eagles is currently the highest-paid 4-3 defensive tackle, earning $17.1 million annually. While Cox is among the league's most impactful defenders, his sack numbers have never reached the heights of Jones in 2018. Cox had a career-high 10.5 quarterback takedowns last season.

The trade of Dee Ford, who was franchise tagged by Kansas City prior to the deal with the San Francisco 49ers, opens up the possibility that the Chiefs could use it on Jones in 2020.