Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt landed as the 12th and 11th best players in the NFL Top 100 for 2025, the league announced on Friday. Jones slipped six spots from last year, while Watt fell three positions from eighth in 2024 to 11th this time around.
Jones, 31, remains one of the game’s premier interior disruptors. He has earned six Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro honors, and helped the Chiefs win three Super Bowls during his nine NFL seasons. He owns 80.5 sacks in 138 career regular-season games, ranking fourth in Chiefs history behind Derrick Thomas, Tamba Hali and Neil Smith. After back-to-back 10-plus sack seasons in 2022 and 2023 (peaking with 15.5 sacks in 2022), he tallied five sacks in 15 games last season but still produced 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits while often facing double teams. Jones’s presence was a driving force behind Kansas City’s top-five scoring defense and another deep playoff run last season.
Watt, who was widely regarded as one of the league’s most dominant players, has stacked a remarkable résumé over eight seasons. He has seven Pro Bowl selections, four First-Team All-Pro nods and was named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Watt tallied 108 career sacks—the most in Steelers history—over a career marked by double-digit sacks in six of the past seven campaigns, including 11.5 sacks last season. He also led the league with six forced fumbles. Watt’s impact extends beyond sacks, as his disruptive play has consistently anchored Pittsburgh’s defense. This offseason, Watt signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension, underscoring his value to the Steelers.
The full Top 100 list remains a showcase of the league’s elite talent, with Jones and Watt positioned among its most influential defenders. Notables in the range around them include players like Penei Sewell at 13 and several other stars continuing to shape the league’s defensive and offensive landscapes.
What this means for the teams:
– Chiefs: Jones’s continued dominance is a cornerstone of Kansas City’s defensive identity. Even with some fluctuation in the rankings, his ability to collapse pockets and disrupt the run game remains critical as the Chiefs aim to sustain a stout defense alongside one of the league’s most potent offenses.
– Steelers: Watt’s status as a face of the franchise continues to be a driving force for Pittsburgh’s pass rush. His blend of relentless pursuit, production, and leadership is central to the team’s defensive ambitions as they build around a rising group of playmakers.
Summary and outlook:
The NFL Top 100 spotlight confirms that Jones and Watt are among the game’s elite defenders, capable of tipping the balance in pivotal moments. While their positions in the rankings shifted slightly this year, their track records, contract commitments, and ongoing impact suggest they will remain influential figures on defense and key contributors to their teams’ success in 2025.
Additional note:
If you’re looking for deeper context, the countdown continues to feature a mix of veteran stalwarts and rising stars, illustrating how the league values both established dominance and potential upside on both sides of the ball. Their performances this season will likely influence not only personal accolades but also team outcomes as the campaign unfolds.