Less than two weeks after they gave him the franchise tag, the Arizona Cardinals have signed Chandler Jones to a five year extension. Jones has registered 23.5 sacks over the last two years, the third most in the NFL behind Khalil Mack and Von Miller. By extending Jones’ contract, the Cardinals have freed up more cap space this year, so they can attempt to retain some of their own free agents.
Chandler Jones Agrees To 5-Year Extension With the Arizona Cardinals
The details of the contract aren’t out yet, but’s sure to be a doozy. If Jones had just chosen to play under the franchise tag, he would’ve made a whopping $14.6 million dollars for this season. Calais Campbell is already gone, but that doesn’t mean the Cardinals can’t try to re-sign the likes of Tony Jefferson while pursuing other free agents.
Joel Corry of CBS Sports predicts that Jones could make upwards of $90 million dollars, including $55 million guaranteed and $19 million per season over the first three seasons. This would make him one of the NFL’s highest paid defenders, and it would give them a young base to build around.
Carson Palmer will turn 38 during next football season, and Larry Fitzgerald will be 34 years old when next season kicks off. The Arizona Cardinals went from Super Bowl contenders to wild card rejects during the 2016 season, and with Bruce Arians sticking around for another year, the Cardinals will look to make another push.
The Cardinals will have a great defense yet again in 2016, and they’re hoping they can get just a little more punch out of the offense. David Johnson is a monster in the backfield, and when the offense is clicking on all cylinders, they’re as good as anyone.
Jones is one of the NFL’s most complete defenders, being one of the NFL’s best pass rushers on one hand, while also being a competent run-stopper on the other. As Palmer and Fitzgerald steam towards retirement, the Cardinals will need a young talented player to build around, and that player seems to be Chandler Jones.
