The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the top defensive linemen in football in veteran DL Chris Jones. Over the years, he's been amongst some of the best defenders in football, according to Pro Football Focus.
That being said, he has his doubts regarding their grading system. He put those out into the sports world this week.
Chiefs star rips Pro Football Focus
"...Don't play pay attention to PFF. Numbers are false. Those college kids [are] grading. I love Chris Collinsworth, but if you gon get that, get professionals in there... Numbers are terrible.
But most importantly, I think, is more so us battling as a group to make sure we stop the run as a whole." -- Chris Jones
Jones kept it short and sweet, but he made sure to make his opinion on the grading system quite clear. He doesn't take it seriously, and he is focused on he and this teammates getting the job done upfront for KC going forward.
The Chiefs lineman has been the second-highest rated defensive lineman in football, according to PFF, since Week 5. They do respect his game, but that does not change his viewpoint.
Jones is not the first NFL player, current or former, to make a strong statement regarding PFF, either. J.J. Watt shared a similar sentiment earlier in 2024.
“It’s just - as somebody who’s done it and who’s been in those trenches and who knows what it’s like and who knows what it’s like to have somebody telling you how good you’re doing.
I mean, I’ve literally sat in a meeting room with coaches and put the grades side-by-side from a coaches’ grade and a PFF grade. I’ve done it, and it’s not even remotely close. So like, don’t sit there and tell me, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know how all this works.’ Like yeah, I do. I’ve literally done it. I’ve sat in that room and done it with coaches in the National Football League. So take your **** and shovel it somewhere else. I’m not dealing with it,"
"PFF sucks, have a great day everybody."
-- Watt via The Pat McAfee Show
Watt is a former three-time NFL defensive player of the year. He's a Hall of Fame talent, similarly to Jones.
The frustration from NFL players does not stop there, either. Former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan aired his frustration with PFF in 2022.
[PFF] is a complete liability, it's a lie. Do you know there's NFL football players who go and pay $50,000 a year to PFF so their numbers are inflated?"
-- Lewan via Barstool Sports
All in all, the Chiefs star lineman is not out of place when it comes to his doubts of PFF. Many players in recent years have raised questions or concerns regarding the legitimacy of the system.
We will see if more players make comments about it after Jones' latest statements.
