NFL coach: Chiefs’ Chris Jones ‘in a class of his own’ after Aaron Donald’s retirement | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

The retirement of former Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald has left a hole that Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones is now looking to fill.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic spoke to a rival coach who said, “Chris Jones is in a class of his own now in terms of internal competition.”

Howe added that the five-time Pro Bowler “could bolster his Hall of Fame candidacy by taking over as the league’s best defensive tackle.”

Jones is coming off his second straight first-team All-Pro selection after recording 30 tackles, 10.5 sacks and four passes defensed in 2023. He helped the Chiefs to a second straight Super Bowl title and their third championship in the past five years.

Kansas City awarded Jones a five-year, $158.75 million contract in March, including $101 million in guarantees. That makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history at $31.75 million per year, higher than Donald’s average of $31.6 million.

Donald was a Pro Bowler in each of his 10 years in the NFL, was selected to the All-Pro first-team eight times and was Defensive Player of the Year three times, so Jones has a long way to go before he can match that resume.

Another big year in 2024 could put Jones on a path to join Donald as one of the best defenders of this generation.