Chris Jones is an emerging defensive leader for the Kansas City Chiefs

When Chris Jones was drafted, he was looked at as a project player. A few years later, he’s now becoming one of the leaders on the Chiefs defense.

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The excitement for the first Kansas City Chiefs preseason game this past week was palpable all the way over here in South Korea. While we didn’t get to see Patrick Mahomes uncork the deep ball to Tyreek Hill, we did get to see good things from some individual players.

Tanoh Kpassagnon showed he had developed some inside moves. Chase Litton proved he should be in consideration for the third-string quarterback spot. Xavier Willams showed that he could be the space eater that Kansas City wanted from Bennie Logan last season. These are just a few of the things I noted during the game, but none of them stuck out to me the way Chris Jones did.

Not only did Jones play well the other night, but he also started showing how much of a leader he is on the defense. On 3^rd and 8 in the Chiefs own red zone, the Houston Texans used a timeout. Jones used this opportunity to go out onto the field and attempt to inspire his teammates to stop the Texans. Directly after this interaction, we saw Breeland Speaks come within inches of getting his first career sack. T.Y. McGill and Speaks both harrassed quarterback Joe Webb into throwing an incomplete pass, forcing a field goal.

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Seeing that tenacity moments after Jones had been on the field made it very clear what the other players on the Chiefs defense think of him. Which can only bode well for the team as a whole. We all remember how tough of a time Kansas City had against the run last season. The mantra we have heard all throughout camp is that the Chiefs are going to stop the run game. While the preseason game didn’t reflect this mentality we keep hearing about, the fact that it is a point of emphasis for all the players and not only the coaches is a good sign.

Intensity was something Kansas City lacked on the defensive side of the ball last season. There was just a lackadaisical feel to the defense overall which did not sit well with fans, especially during the midseason skid the Chiefs went through. Having a player like Jones become a leader should change that.

Jones is not like Justin Houston who is generally a silent leader. Jones brings the fire and charismatic intensity Kanas city was missing every day. Whether it is pumping up the crowd in a game or doing something as simple as walking down to begin practice, Jones is always ready to flash his signature big grin and start amping everyone up.

With the departure of players like Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, there were holes left when it came to team leadership. Jones’s willingness to step up and take on that mantle shows just how much he has matured as a person and a player since the Chiefs drafted him in the second round of the 2015 draft. Add in Reggie Ragland and Kendall Fuller as two other players who have shown a willingness to pick up the leadership mantle, and you begin to have what seems like a strong young core on your team.

Now all of these young guys have much to prove still, but right now they are saying and doing all the right things to make their teammates buy into what they are selling. Getting 53 grown men to all believe that they can achieve one goal is no small feat by any means. Jones and company right now (with the help of Eric Berry and Houston) seem to have done that on the defensive side of the ball.

With this solid foundation, the Chiefs could be well on their way to rebuilding the defense.  In the meantime here is a little taste of what the Chiefs get to see every day from this emerging young leader.