There's no denying that Chris Jones has plenty left in the tank.
The Kansas City Chiefs committed a hefty five-year contract extension to the star defensive tackle just a year ago, and no one is even thinking of buyer's remorse after the first season as the Chiefs angle for their third consecutive Super Bowl title, fueled in part by a defensive engine led by Jones.
But it's also true that Jones is on the other side of 30 and defensive linemen can take some more time than others to acclimate to the pro level given the difference in competition and the need for great technique. Some things only come with experience. That's why it might be nice for the Chiefs to consider sowing some seeds at the position in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft is thinking the same way for the Chiefs, at least in the first round of this year's draft, which is why he's projecting them to select Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss.
Nolen, a former transfer from Texas A&M, was named an All-American this year in his third collegiate season and first for the Rebels. This season, he had 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 4 pass deflections, and 2 fumble recoveries.
While Nolen grades as a plus pass rusher with real disruptive potential, he grades as an elite run stopper as well. PFF graded him with a very impressive 91.6 run defense grade and an overall score of 88.9 on the year. He ranks as the 36th top prospect on their draft board at the present time.
According to Kiper, "Nolen has strong hands and can pressure the QB from inside with his quickness." Teaming him with Jones would give the Chiefs two elite talents along the interior to go with the presence of George Karlaftis and Mike Danna on the edges.
With Charles Omenihu set to hit free agency along with expiring contracts for Mike Pennel, Turk Wharton, and Derrick Nnadi, it makes sense to reset in the middle with a major cost-controlled investment. That doesn't preclude some of those veterans from returning, but having a player like Nolen in place for the next four or five seasons would really give the Chiefs some flexibility and security up front (along with the obvious production).
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