Earlier this week, one of the greatest defensive players of all time announced his intention to step away from the game. Aaron Donald, the defensive tackle of the Los Angeles Rams walked away from the game as one of the best players to step on the field.

With his departure, he has now left behind a void that will be hard to fill. To former NFL defensive end JJ Watt, Donald’s departure has resulted in Chris Jones becoming the best defensive tackle in the league.

JJ Watt spoke to Forbes ahead of his appearance in a reboot of Miller Lite. He had nothing but praise for Chris Jones:

He probably has that title now that Aaron has retired. He is a phenomenal player. He’s big, he’s strong, but he’s still agile. He can move well. He can slide up and down the line and play different positions. He can get his hands up and knock balls down. So the more you can do, the better you’re going to be, and he can do a lot. JJ Watt said
Jones has established himself to be the crown jewel of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ defensive locker room. The reason is that he is a vocal personality in the locker room and also a freak of nature on the field. It comes as no surprise that the team moved heaven and earth to offer him a five-year deal worth $159 million with $95 million of it guaranteed.

Chris Jones intends to stay with the Kansas City Chiefs for the rest of his career
Jones can do everything an organization expects from a defensive tackle. Last season, he played a key part in the Chiefs’ successful attempt to win back-to-back championships. He had 10.5 sacks with 13 tackles for loss in 16 games and made yet another Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team. His latest deal with the team is far from team-friendly. However, considering the impact Jones has on the defense, he is worth every penny.

His contract has made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL and deservedly so. The Chiefs are vying to establish themselves as a dynasty and will be in pursuit of winning a third-straight Super Bowl this year to become the only team in league history to accomplish this feat. While it remains a daunting task, it would be nearly impossible without Chris Jones on their roster.

JJ Watt might be right in his take that Chris Jones is a “great player.” After Aaron Donald, if anyone else in the league made sacking quarterbacks, making Pro Bowls, and being a guaranteed pick to the All-Pro teams year after year look easy, it is Jones. The 29-year-old has already eclipsed Aaron Donald in financial terms, it remains to be seen if he can do the same with his defensive prowess.