NFL rookie sack leader: Patriots’ Chris Jones

In a year where so many pass rushers were selected with a ton of athletic ability and hype including Dion Jordan, Barkevious Mingo, Ezekiel Ansah, and Jarvis Jones, it figures that halfway through the season, the rookie leader would be an undrafted free agent from the MAC in Chris Jones of the New England Patriots.  The former Bowling Green Falcon went undrafted despite recording 21 sacks and 33 tackles for loss in his last two seasons in college.  When he finally got his shot on the field in the fourth game of the season, Jones picked up right where he left off at Bowling Green and has collected 5 sacks in his first 5 NFL games.

Jones was short, undersized to be a defensive lineman and was somewhat of a tweener.  He was not tall enough to play a 5-technique and not really big enough to be a consistent 3-technique.  All he does is get into the backfield and put pressure on the quarterback.  And he does it from the inside, which is invaluable.  It was never going to make sense that Jones would be a top pick in the draft because of the things that went against him, but it is amazing that no one used a late round pick on him and just put him in to rush the quarterback.

The Patriots made the call and have let him loose on opponents, which has been a nice boost for them.  Jones is currently second on the team in sacks behind Chandler Jones who has 6.5.  Most everything going on in Foxboro has to do with Tom Brady and the issues with the Patriots offense, but Jones has been a terrific story and a huge pickup for the Patriots defense.