AFC West: The most underrated player on every team
Pick Analysis. Kansas City Chiefs. 95. Scouting Report. Chris Jones. player. 124. DT
via Sayre Bedinger
The discussion for ‘best defensive player in the NFL’ today generally revolves around a few guys. Aaron Donald is the obvious number one choice for everyone, followed by Khalil Mack, and if you’re a Texans fan you’re throwing JJ Watt’s name in the mix, if you’re a Broncos fan you’ll throw Von Miller’s name into the mix.
No one ever talks about Chris Jones, who is probably second only to Aaron Donald at this point and is certainly in the conversation with guys like Mack, Miller, and Watt.
Chris Jones led the Chiefs defense in overall grade and pass-rush grade from the interior.
— PFF (@PFF) May 21, 2019
Those are both elite grades, btw. pic.twitter.com/hO0PykNfKq
Let’s take a look at some of Jones’ numbers in 2018.
- 40 total tackles
- 29 QB hits
- 15.5 sacks
- 19 tackles for loss
- 2 forced fumbles
- 1 interception (returned for a touchdown)
- 5 pass deflections
Jones looked like a man among boys every time he took the field, and part of the reason he’s gone so underrated is because the Chiefs’ defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed for a good chunk of last season.
Jones, however, was an unstoppable force individually, making nearly half of his tackles behind the line of scrimmage and disrupting the opposing team’s passing game unlike most interior defensive linemen in the entire league.
The closer the game, the more clutch Jones was.
In games decided by seven points or less, he had 10 of his 15.5 sacks.
This is an elite player and one of the best in the entire NFL, yet his name is not put in the discussion when talking about the best defensive players. What gives?
Next. 2019 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams. dark
Jones deserves his recognition at this point. Teams playing the Chiefs know they can’t sleep on him.