While there is no shortage of directions to point fingers after the Kansas City Chiefs debacle in Seattle, one consistent frustration has emerged. Star defender Chris Jones has done next to nothing all season and, yet again, was unable to show up against Seattle when the Chiefs so desperately needed a play.
The interior lineman is being paid like a star and performing as if he were simply another name in the middle or even at the bottom of the roster.
Sunday was simply the latest example of this, as Jones didn't record a single sack in the loss. Thus far in the 2026 season, Jones has half a sack and six tackles. This is the level of production you expect from a rotational lineman, not a player who is being paid to set the tone for your defense and be a piece of your core alongside Travis Kelce, Nick Bolton, and Patrick Mahomes.
Jones held out when he didn't receive what he believed was due to him ahead of the 2023 season. Kansas City responded by paying the defender in incentives and raising expectations that Jones was going to continue to live up to, eventually handing a $158.75 million extension to the star.
Each season since, the franchise has watched production dip, with Sunday's loss simply being far too obvious not to call out. Jones isn't living up to his deal and has become an incredible source of frustration for a team that badly needs a playmaking pass rusher to emerge. The type of pass rusher that Jones is being paid to be for the Chiefs.
Chiefs frustration with Chris Jones continues to reach new heights as production craters
It should be noted that there was a calf injury earlier in the season that had the defender showing up on the injury report. Still, if you're on the field and a star of the level of Jones, you're expected to perform whether or not there are any lingering issues. This is especially the case when you're one of the few defenders the franchise chose to pay and build around instead of turning the page on.
Considering how things have played out, it is fair to begin to wonder whether or not this was a mistake and Jones should've been allowed to walk away. As great as the defender has been for the dynasty, the production is no longer meeting the salary, and that is a huge problem with the way that Kansas City's roster has been constructed.
It will be interesting to watch whether this is a sign of things to come and Jones is a truly sunk cost, or if it is simply a slow start for an incredibly important defender. The defensive interior has been improved with both free agency and the draft, offering the Chiefs clear upgrades in comparison to last season. The question simply remains whether or not Jones can find a way to turn back the clock or if it is time for Kansas City to start considering a way out of the deal.
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