Chris Jones of the KC Chiefs leads NFL poll as best DT in football

July 9, 2024

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is one of the longest-tenured players on the roster and has seen and done just about everything in his NFL career. The former second-round pick was there before Patrick Mahomes joined the team, and a new contract extension ensures he’ll stay in town for seasons to come.

Jones is one of the team’s top three players, cementing his status as a premier defensive player. According to a recent survey of league coaches, executives and scouts, the Mississippi State product is The the best defensive tackle in sports.

With Aaron Donald out of the running, it’s Jones’ time to shine. In the continuation of their league poll series, ESPN Jones easily tops this year’s list of top 10 defensive linemen. Jeremy Fowler analyzes the selections, which included feedback and votes from the aforementioned staff, as well as context from outlet analyst Matt Bowen.

“Jones secured his first-place spot in impressive fashion, garnering nearly 80% of the first-place vote,” Fowler wrote. “He once stole votes from Donald and is now in a class of his own. Jones ranks first in the 2024 field in pass rush win rate for defensive tackles (19.6%), and the 29 incomplete passes caused by his pass rush rank second among defensive tackles. ‘His size and consistently dominant effort are just so hard to block,’ one NFL executive said of Jones. ‘He’s such a mismatch because he’s so long and strong, and he can win from any position — the edge, over the middle, in the B-gap.’ Jones leads all defensive tackles with 35 sacks over the past three years.”

And here are the top five:

During his prime, Donald was perhaps the most alluring defensive force in the NFL, regardless of position. His ability to single-handedly transform a running game and also track the passer with the best was unmatched. While Jones may not quite the same impact, it’s safe to say defensive coordinators are still having sleepless nights thinking about how to prepare for him. That hasn’t changed in 2023.

Despite missing the first week of the season due to a contract violation, Jones made up for lost time in the home stretch. He quickly returned to form with 10.5 sacks in 16 regular-season games and never looked back. During Kansas City’s postseason run, the two-time All-Pro recorded another half-sack and eight tackles in four games. Jones’ role as closer for the Chiefs helped lead to several wins thanks to his outstanding defense.

It’s no secret that Jones is now the best at his position, as another broadcaster previously had him in the top spot. At the start of the 2024-25 season, the three-time Super Bowl winner will have crossed the age barrier of 30. While that’s a scary number for pass-rush maestros in the NFL, Jones likely has one or two more outstanding performances left in him. Can he justify his new ranking this season? The league is banking on it.