ESPN Insider: Chandler Jones among most team-friendly deals
Jun 27, 2016, 5:52 PM | Updated: Jun 28, 2016, 9:35 am
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones, who was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots, speaks during a news conference Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. (David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic via AP)
(David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic via AP)
When the Arizona Cardinals made an offseason trade to get Chandler Jones, they acquired what one writer calls one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NFL.
In March, the Cardinals sent guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick to the New England Patriots for the 26-year-old Jones. A prolific pass-rusher, Jones represented the Cardinals on ESPN writer Mike Sando’s list of every team’s most team-friendly contract.
Arizona Cardinals
Chandler Jones, OLBTeams seeking young, talented pass-rushers paid a premium this offseason (see Olivier Vernon’s five-year, $85 million deal with the Giants). Jones will earn less than $8 million in his first season with the Cardinals. That’s a bargain for a 26-year-old player with 36 sacks in four NFL seasons.
Last season with New England, Jones logged a career-high 12.5 sacks in 15 games, good for fifth-most in the NFL. He also forced four fumbles and defensed two passes. In 2013, he had 42 tackles and 11.5 sacks, as well as a forced fumble.
Jones’ cap hit for the Cardinals next year of $7.8 million is sixth-highest on the team behind left tackle Jared Veldheer, corner Patrick Peterson, defensive end Calais Campbell, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Carson Palmer. Of those six players, Jones has logged the lowest amount of NFL playing time.
