ARIZONA CARDINALS

Report: Cardinals’ Tony Jefferson to hit free agent market

Feb 18, 2017, 3:47 PM | Updated: 4:31 pm

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) has his pass knocked away by Arizona Cardinals strong ...

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) has his pass knocked away by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) during the first half of a football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

With so many important Cardinals players’ contracts set to expire when free agency kicks off March 9, it will be impossible for Arizona to re-sign all of their key players while maintaining any sort of financial flexibility for the future.

It would be a major upset if the team were to allow outside linebacker Chandler Jones to hit the market, but defensive end Calais Campbell and safeties Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger headline a still lengthy list of potential free agents.

At least one of these players will reportedly not reach a deal with the Cardinals prior to free agency, according to Bleacher Report writer Matt Miller.

Miller’s report is somewhat contrary to an earlier report that an NFL source claimed the club was in “serious negotiations” with the 25-year-old strong safety.

Jefferson took a big step forward in 2016 and became one of the premier run-defending defensive backs in the league. He led the Cardinals in tackles with 96, after finishing 2015 and 2014 with 78 and 79 tackles, respectively. He also added two sacks, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

The Cardinals signed Jefferson in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Oklahoma. Since then, Jefferson has made a major impact on the Arizona defense throughout his four seasons in the league.

His development has helped the Cardinals defense allow the fourth-fewest yards per game in the NFL over the past two seasons at 313.5. Only the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans have had a better mark over that span.

The average salary of $7 million a year that Miller mentioned would make Jefferson the NFL’s 10th-highest paid safety. This speculative number would trail the contracts of Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu, Minnesota’s Harrison Smith, New England’s Devin McCourty, New Orleans’s Jairus Byrd, Philadelphia’s Malcolm Jenkins, Jacksonville’s Tashaun Gipson, Miami’s Reshad Jones and Seattle’s Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

If Jefferson returned to the Cardinals for $7 million, his contract would also tie him with offensive tackle Jared Veldheer for the seventh-highest paid player on the Cardinals’ roster behind quarterback Carson Palmer, cornerback Patrick Peterson, Mathieu, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, offensive guard Mike Iupati and inside linebacker Daryl Washington. Jones is also destined to join the top-five highest paid Cardinals this offseason.

CBS Sports writer Jason La Canfora agrees with Miller’s assessment.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

15 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

18 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Report: Cardinals’ Tony Jefferson to hit free agent market