Tonga 'pumped' to play next to Chris Jones, calls signing with KC a 'no brainer'
Physical nose tackle adds long-missing push up the middle in Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
The Kansas City Chiefs made a clear statement about their priorities on day one of free agency. Their second signing was agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga on a three-year deal worth up to $21 million, including $14 million guaranteed.
They sured up the middle of the field, adding a dynamic running back with Kenneth Walker and tagged safety Alohi Gilman to pair with Tonga in the middle of the defense.
Like Walker, Tonga is a departure in how general manager Brett Veach has generally allocated his resources. This was not a bargain-bin, patchwork addition. It was a calculated investment in a nose tackle, which is an area the Chiefs have lacked to stabilize for years.
For Tonga, the decision to land in Kansas City came easily.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come here, and I have ties with (head) coach (Andy) Reid with BYU,” Tonga said. “System-wise, it’s perfect. Just excited to be here.”
That connection matters. Tonga played his college ball at BYU, the same program where Reid was a player and grad assistant in the late 70s and early 80s. He now joins a pipeline of Cougars who have found a home with Reid, including Daniel Sorensen, Kingsley Suamataia, and Chad Lewis.
But this move is about more than familiarity. It is about changing the math up front.
For years, Kansas City has relied on a rotation of Derrick Nnadi and Mike Pennel to anchor the one-tech position. Both filled their roles at times, but the Chiefs never truly committed significant resources to upgrading the spot.
Tonga represents that shift.
At roughly 6-foot-2 and 335 pounds, Tonga is built to do the dirty work. He’s a space-eater, a run-plugger, and someone who can keep linebackers clean on early downs. But what makes this signing intriguing is the added pass-rush upside.
Tonga posted strong pressure numbers last season and consistently collapsed the pocket from the interior. He tallied a career high 17, and to put that in perspective, Nnadi and Pennel combined for 7. In pass rush grade, Tonga ranked 18th out of 134 interior defensive linemen who logged enough stats to qualify, per PFF.
This gives the Chiefs something they simply have not had at the position next to All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones in recent years.
“I’m pumped to be able to come in and play next to Chris (Jones),” Tonga said. “I just met him for the first time in the weight room. He looks pretty mad about last season, and I’m excited. I can’t wait to be able to go and be able to help him out and be able to help out the defense as much as I can.”
That pairing could be the key to unlocking Kansas City’s defensive front.
Jones will continue to command double teams, as he always does. The difference now is what happens along the edges. If Tonga can hold his ground against the run while also pushing the pocket, it creates more one-on-one opportunities across the line. Tonga will bring juice and activity to the defensive front if he can repeat his success in New England.
“I love being physical,” Tonga said. “My game is I take a lot of pride in how physical my hands can be. I take a lot of pride in how fast I can get off the ball. So, for me, those are the two things I feel like I bring to the table.”
There’s also an under-the-radar layer to Tonga’s game. He’s lined up on offense in short-yardage situations with the Patriots, occasionally serving as a lead blocker in heavy packages, a wrinkle that could appeal to Reid in goal-line scenarios.
Tonga, 29, is fresh off a Super Bowl run and entering his prime. Kansas City signals his fifth team in six seasons. He was a key cog on a dominant Mike Vrabel defense, and it appears Veach sees him similarly. He can now put down roots working with a team that can get him right back to another shot at a Lombardi.
And if the fit is as seamless as it looks on paper, this could be one of the more quietly impactful moves of the Chiefs’ offseason.