KC Chiefs DT Chris Jones ranked as NFL’s best interior defender for 2024

June 30, 2024

The Kansas City Chiefs’ core of championship players often consists of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, but this offseason the team has made it clear that defensive tackle Chris Jones is also a mainstay of the franchise.

After all, Jones put together another excellent season last year and signed a lucrative new contract in the offseason. Just days before his 30th birthday (at the time of this article’s publication), the All-Pro man has established himself as an elite player.

In fact, he is so elite that the discussion about the best interior defender in the NFL has to start with him. Focus on professional football also hinted at this recently when Sam Monson put Jones at No. 1 after Aaron Donald retired.

“With Aaron Donald’s retirement, the player closest to him in recent years takes the throne,” Monson wrote. “The best thing that can be said about Chris Jones is that he has closed the gap between Donald and everyone else in the league. Over the last two seasons, Jones has had the highest pressure rate at the position, 24 times more pressure than any other center back.”

Players like Dexter Lawrence and Quinnen Williams are great and also rank second and third on Monson’s list. Still, Jones was significantly better than Donald in 2022, having 10.5 sacks last season. Being named first-team All-Pro in consecutive years shows considerable dominance, and that’s exactly what Jones offers on the interior.

With his big salary secured, Jones believes he is in good shape. Speaking about it earlier this offseason, he admitted he is happy to have a largely normal process after a tumultuous 2023.

“Well, the mental health aspect is I’m here. Last year I wasn’t here. I have to go to training camp. Last year I didn’t do that,” Jones said, smiling, drawing laughter from the media room. “My mental state is like, ‘Shit, I have to stay in the dorm,’ but last year I didn’t do that, I slept in my bed, so you know, it’s a mental challenge. But overall, I’m in good shape. I’m happy to be here, happy to be back on the Kansas City team, happy to be back with the organization. I think that’s a plus for both of us, and I’m happy to be back here, man.”

Jones is under contract for several years and serves as a cornerstone of the defense and front four. His standing among his peers is a big reason why Kansas City’s defensive line is one of the better half in all of football. It all starts and ends with Jones, the consummate pass rush specialist and closer.

Jones is not necessarily considered the best defensive player in the league As Donald was in his prime, he is currently the gold standard for centre-backs.