Chris Jones NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Chiefs Rookie

POSITIVES

Turn on the film from Chris Jones’ games against Missouri and Arkansas and you’ll see a defensive lineman with top-10 potential. Maybe even top five overall. He’s long, explosive and relentless as he tosses around ball-carriers. That’s the ability that has teams talking about using a top-15 selection on him.

Jones has elite strength at the point of attack and uses his 10 ¾-inch hands to throw blockers off his path. He combines pad level with power in his lower half and can rock back blockers when he gets underneath their chest and drives up. Jones has a wide, powerful base and moves like a small defensive end in pursuit.

Working both head-up on the tackle and in gaps, Jones has excellent balance and the strength to absorb cut blocks. He won’t let trash near his feet trip him up moving laterally. His initial forward movement can be top-heavy, but Jones recovers well and has the awareness to be deadly as a wrap-up tackler in the middle of the line.

Whether you run a one-gap or two-gap defense, Jones is a fit. The same goes for a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. He’s a truly scheme-versatile performer with the elite length, size and skill set to make a day one impact.

NEGATIVES

Off-field issues too often get swept up in vague terms, and Jones is a victim of that. Despite his only run-in during the last four years being for a suspended license, Jones is talked about by team scouts as immature and as a player who “doesn’t get it” off the field.

According to teams, there are also concerns about his father and a history of drug use. To the outsider, these may seem like odd notes, but to NFL teams investing millions of dollars into a player, they are relevant.

When looking for on-field issues, Jones can be inconsistent and tended to play down to his competition. He didn’t always meet power with power on the line and gave average effort when the play was away from his side of the line. If he can be coached to stay low—not easy at 6’6”—his burst will level out and be much more consistent.

Jones’ workouts didn’t match his film in terms of athleticism and explosion. Even factoring in his improved vertical jump of 29 ½", Jones' explosive numbers are below the line.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 310 lbs.

40 Time: 5.03s

3-Cone: 7.44s

Short Shuttle: 4.62s

PRO COMPARISON: Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets
FINAL GRADE: 6.99/9.00 (Round 2—Future Starter)