Since coordinator Steve Spagnuolo took over, the Kansas City Chiefs have earned praise for their talented defense. Although their success is evident, an NFL analyst suggests they may be in for a possible downyear.
According to Kyle Soppe of Pro Football Network, the Chiefs’ defense won’t be ranked among the elite, in part due to the aging star defensive tackle Chris Jones.
“Kansas City has now bookended a fourth-place Defense+ finish in 2023 with a pair of 14th’s. Chris Jones missed a pair of games and recorded his lowest sack total since his rookie season, leading to concerns that his upcoming season at 31 years old could further provide evidence that his best days are behind him.” wrote Kyle Soppe of Pro Football Network “That said, this was still the fourth-best scoring unit a season ago. As long as Patrick Mahomes pressures opponents to be efficient, this defense will be in a position to succeed and finish as an above-average unit.”
Last season, Jones earned his third consecutive first-team All-Pro selection and sixth straight Pro Bowl invitation. He finished the 2024 regular season with five sacks and 37 tackles in 15 games.