(Photo: Fox Sports)
7. Chris Jones: We are almost finished with the first half of this list! I say it every year, but these always breeze by and they go so quickly. Let’s take it back to September 7th, 2023. It’s opening night and the Kansas City Chiefs are raising another championship banner. They were without Travis Kelce and another important piece to their puzzle on defense was holding out because of a contractual dispute. He comes back a week later and they hold the Jacksonville Jaguars to three field goals. In March, the Chiefs were able to extend who I’m about to discuss. Chris Jones has finally made the list. He checks in at number seven and is my third-ranked defensive player in the league today.
I can admit I’ve said other guys were more important to the Chiefs’ defense, but looking at these last two seasons in Kansas City, you see just how much Chris means not just to this defense, but this football team. I said it last September and I’ll repeat myself. If 95 is in the starting lineup when the Chiefs are playing the Detroit Lions in that opener, that is a completely different ball game if he’s on the field. I’ve been comparing him to Richard Seymour for a few years now and just as the Hall of Famer did, Chris can play outside and inside on the defensive line. However, he does his best work on the interior. He’s so disruptive and wants to ruin any scheme the offense has planned. Chris is as complete of a defender as it gets as he can rush the passer, stop the run, and clog the open lanes up. At 297 pounds, he has a quick first step and speed altogether that allows him to get wherever he wants whenever. What people fail to realize about Chris is how powerful he is when he’s pursuing the Quarterback. He plays with such violent hands and knows how to position himself. When he has you in his grasp, you’re not beating him. He’s already won! What’s always stood out to me about him is his hustle and how he plays until that whistle is blown. One thing you can’t teach or coach in this sport is effort and his effort levels are always above 100 percent. We often speak about offensive players closing games out, but defenders can do it as well, Chris is one of them. Look back at the AFC Championship game in the 2022 season against the Cincinnati Bengals. When the Chiefs needed that stop, Chris delivered and sacked Joe Burrow. Kansas City gets the ball back and they’re back in the Super Bowl. The bigger the game and the brighter the lights are, the better he is. He’s their closer.
If you don’t chip him or attempt to double him, you will have a long day at the office. The Chiefs aren’t the dynasty they are without Chris Jones, plain and simple. I’ve referred to him as the Aaron Donald of the Chiefs defense meaning he’s so important and valuable to their success. Kansas City improved on defense so much last year and he was the catalyst of that. He was key in limiting Lamar Jackson in last year’s AFC title game. When he wants to get home to the passer, he does just that. Chris earned every penny of that contract extension in March.
