Chris Jones and Quinnen Williams lead the top 10 DT rankings of NFL coaches and managers

Thanks to Aaron Donald’s retirement in March, there is actually a competition for the NFL’s best defensive tackle for the 2024 season.

In a poll of coaches, scouts and executives from around the league conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones beat out Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets as the best defensive tackle.

The 10 best defensive tackles

1. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
3. Dexter Lawrence II, New York Giants
4. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
5. Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens
6. Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins
7. Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
8. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
9. Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
10. Javon Hargrave, San Francisco 49ers

Jones and Williams were the only players on the list to receive first-place votes, with Jones finishing no lower than second in any vote after recording 29 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 16 starts last season.

“His size and consistent dominance make him so hard to block,” one NFL executive told Fowler of Jones. “He’s so uneven because he’s so long and strong, and he can win from any position — the edge, over the middle, in the B-gap.”

Williams and Lawrence were listed as low as 8th on some ballots. Justin Madubuike appeared on all ballots, ranking 2nd through 7th.

None of the other six players in the top 10 were named on all ballots. Tennessee Titans standout Jeffery Simmons was the highest-ranked player (No. 4) not named by at least one person who voted.

It speaks to the depth that exists at the position right now that eight of the 10 players listed all received at least one vote in the top three. Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers and DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts were both voted second by at least one person.

After two consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks and All-Pro nominations, Jones capitalized in the offseason by signing a five-year, $158.8 million contract to stay with the Chiefs.

With this contract, Jones became the highest-paid defensive lineman in the NFL in terms of average annual salary ($31.8 million). Donald was the only other player at the position to earn at least $30 million per season ($31.7 million).