KC Chiefs' Chris Jones Ranked as PFF's No. 2 Interior Defensive Lineman
The Kansas City Chiefs' offseason revolves around the club navigating a post-Super Bowl landscape in an effort to get back to the NFL's biggest game at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Star defensive tackle Chris Jones was a major reason why the team triumphed back in February, as his performances all season long helped anchor Steve Spagnuolo's defense.
Tying his previous career-high mark with 15.5 sacks, Jones also tied a personal best with 29 quarterback hits and set a new high in tackles with 44. The 28-year-old was voted a first-team All-Pro for the first time ever, and he also finished third in the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year voting. Thanks to a resurgence as a pass rusher and some stellar tutelage from defensive line coach Joe Cullen helping him improve as a run defender, Jones turned in his best season ever just in time to earn a new contract that the team is actively considering this offseason.
Over the past few years, Jones has been a consensus second-tier defensive tackle alongside high-profile names like Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons, DeForest Buckner and others. Los Angeles Rams megastar Aaron Donald has largely been viewed as the best player at his position and even the best player in the sport to some, placing him alone on a pedestal of sorts. Donald's production slipped in a major way this past season, though, and Jones's improvement was serious. Did Jones do enough to pass Donald?
Pro Football Focus doesn't quite believe so, as Jones is the No. 2 interior defensive lineman in their rankings ahead of the 2023 campaign. Here's what Gordon McGuinness wrote about Jones:
Jones may be on his way to surpassing Donald as the top interior defender in the NFL. His 92.3 PFF grade in 2022 was the best in the league at the position. With a career-high 97 pressures from 741 pass-rushing snaps, including the playoffs, Jones has established himself as a formidable force in the trenches.
For Donald, McGuinness praised his ability to still rack up plenty of pressures despite having an injury-filled 2022 season. It appears that the No. 1 ranking is partially a legacy spot but also perhaps an expectation that a healthy Donald will get back to his rightful spot atop the defensive line throne this coming season. The article made it clear, however, that another stellar effort from Jones just might lead to him being ranked as the best defensive tackle in the sport. With the pursuit of another championship factored in, this outcome isn't far-fetched.
