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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ed Easton Jr.

NFL execs, coaches, and players rank Chiefs Chris Jones top defensive tackle

NFL executives, coaches, and players ranked Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones as the top defensive tackle in the league in ESPN’s recent top-10 rankings.

Jones and every defensive tackle in the league annually finished behind the legendary Aaron Donald. The perennial All-Pro called it a career at the end of last season, opening the door for a new star at the top of the rankings.

“The best player of the Top 10 series era is retired.” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “Aaron Donald consistently garnered more first-place votes than any other player in the four years of polling since we started this exercise in 2020. “

Jones remained dominant after holding out from training camp, the preseason, and the season’s opening game. He finished 2023 with 10.5 sacks in 16 games and earned first-team All-Pro honors. The performance earned the 30-year-old a five-year, $158.75 million deal containing $101 million in guarantees, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

Jones can now finally add the top spot on ESPN to his many career accolades. He and his teammates hope to secure a Super Bowl three-peat for Kansas City in 2024.

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