The top 25 NFL players under the age of 25

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces after being hit during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 20: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs gestures in the first half against the New England Patriots during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

11. DT Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

This past season, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers tied for the NFL lead with 52 sacks. The latter failed to make the playoffs. Andy Reid’s club earned the top seed in the AFC playoffs but couldn’t stop the New England Patriots in the AFC title game.

This was a Kansas City defense that featured two of the most effective pass rusher in the league in veteran Justin Houston and emerging Dee Ford. But it was three-year pro Chris Jones who led Reid’s team with an impressive 15.5 sacks in 2018. Only Los Angeles Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald (20.5) and Houston Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt (16) trapped opposing quarterbacks more often this past season.

It was quite the breakout year for the 2016 second-round draft choice from Mississippi State University. In his first two seasons, Jones played in all 32 games and finished with a combined 8.5 sacks. Along with the aforementioned 15.5 sacks in ’18, the 6’6”, 310-pound performer notched 40 tackles, knocked down five passes and returned a Blake Bortles interception 20 yards for a touchdown in a Week 5 win over the visiting Jaguars.

But now the Chiefs will be employing a 4-3 defense under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. This offseason, the team dealt Ford to the San Francisco 49ers and Houston, released by the organization, signed with the Indianapolis Colts. There’s a lot of new faces on this side of the ball with the exception of the talented 24-year-old Jones.

Next: No. 10

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