Trio of Cardinals land in NFL.com’s top 25 free agents list

The sheer volume of Arizona Cardinals free agents this offseason is no secret, as they have more than 20 players who are unrestricted free agents and another handful who are restricted.

Of the 20-plus players who are about to hit the open market, three of them, according to NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, are among the top 25 free agents in the entire league.

Coming in at No. 5 was linebacker Chandler Jones.

After being traded to Arizona, Jones did a better job than his former teammate Patriots Jamie Collins of proving he can thrive in any defensive system. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians already declared the team will retain Jones with the franchise tag if it can’t sign him long-term.

Jones, whom the Cardinals acquired in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round draft pick, notched 11 sacks — giving him consecutive seasons with double-digit sack totals for the first time in his career — along with four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 14 QB pressures and 22 QB hits.

And, as noted, though he is a free agent Jones will not be going anywhere, according to Arians, who said the day after the season ended that the franchise tag would be used on the player if necessary. For what it’s worth, Jones has maintained his preference is to make his stay in Arizona last more than just one season.

While Jones is fifth on the list, he is closely followed by defensive teammate Calais Campbell, who is at No. 8.

There’s no other player quite like Campbell, as thoughtful and savvy as he is physically overwhelming at 6-foot-8, 282 pounds. He would make a great “get over the hump” piece for a team looking for a title.

Before the season started, many felt like this would be Campbell’s last in Arizona. However, the veteran finished the season with eight sacks — moving him into second on the Cardinals’ all-time sacks leader list — and had a team-best 26 QB pressures to go along with 27 QB hits. Campbell’s production, along with the struggles of first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche, have led some to believe the Cardinals may decide it’s worth keeping the two-time Pro Bowler around, at least if the price is right.

For his part, Campbell has always said he would like to stay.

The final Cardinal to land in the top 25 is safety Tony Jefferson, who came in at No. 23.

Was he a product of the Cardinals’ aggressive system? Jefferson can make plays all over the field if he finds a coach who knows how to deploy him.

Jefferson really emerged in 2016, with 92 total tackles, two sacks and five passes defensed. One of the team’s better special teams players, too, he was playing under a one-year contract after re-signing as a restricted free agent last offseason.

Jefferson has also said he would like to remain in Arizona, but understands that the NFL is a business and he’s not exactly sure what will happen.

“But I think the interest between each of us is obviously mutual,” he said. “This is pretty much my home.”

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