Chris Jones drafted by Chiefs with No. 37 pick
Jones showed off athleticism and ... other things ... at the 2016 NFL Combine.
Chris Jones is a defensive tackle whose big potential made him one of the top high school recruits in the nation in 2013, but even though he never quite played up to his All-American ceiling, those same physical skills traits made him the second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 37 overall.
It’s not that Jones was a disappointment at Mississippi State. The 6’6, 310-pound blue-chip recruit made an instant impact as a true freshman and finished his three-year career with the Bulldogs with 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, but never made an All-SEC team.
"I’m my biggest critic, and I always feel like I can do better," Jones said at the NFL Combine. "I never felt like I reached my potential because I’m always willing to learn and be coachable and get better. So I never feel like I reach my expectations."
Overshadowed for most of his recruitment by fellow five-star prospect Robert Nkemdiche, Jones launched on to the radar late in his high school career and it’s not particularly surprising just looking at him. He’s big, lengthy and strong, yet light on his feet.
Wardrobe malfunction aside, Jones showed off that athleticism at the 2016 NFL Combine with one of the better 10-yard splits and 3-cone drill times among defensive tackles. While his 24.5-inch vertical jump was lacking, he upped it to 29.5 inches at the Mississippi State pro day.
But on the field, his potential shined inconsistently. Pro Football Focus wrote that his worst grade of the 2015 season came against Northwestern State. He has more negatively graded games than you'd expect from a player who is one of the top NFL draft prospects. The flashes of dominance were there, though.
That play against Texas A&M resulted in a 9-yard gain for the Aggies, but the abilities of Jones are evident. He cleanly wins off the line of scrimmage and eats up two more blockers, collapsing the pocket and allowing every other Mississippi State defensive lineman to have a one-on-one situation.
It was those moments of disruption that led many, including PFF, to compare Jones to a Pro Bowler for the New York Jets.
"It's hard not to see some Muhammad Wilkerson in Jones' game," PFF wrote. "Strength and length are the calling cards for each. And it's not unlikely for Jones to have a similar career arc. Wilkerson struggled adjusting to the pro game as a rookie before becoming one of the game's premier interior defenders."
After trading back at the end of the first round, Jones is the first player of the 2016 draft class for the Chiefs. While Kansas City has a need at cornerback, it’s a playoff team without any glaring weaknesses and Jones is a space eater who promises to further free up pass rushing terrors like Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.
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