ESPN’s Sando: Cardinals have three free agents who are trending upward
Jan 17, 2017, 1:47 PM | Updated: 2:08 pm
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Cardinals’ 7-8-1 record may not have shown it, but there were still plenty of talented players on the roster, some of whom could end up being high-priced free agents.
According to ESPN writer Mike Sando, the Cardinals have three players that could command a steep price on the free agent market.
Sando wrote in an article for ESPN Insider that pass-rusher Chandler Jones, defensive lineman Calais Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson are all on his list of free agents headed for big paydays.
Sando seemed confident the Cardinals would try to keep Chandler Jones.
The Cardinals sent a second-round choice to New England in acquiring Jones before the season. That’s a strong indication that they’ll make re-signing him a top priority.
Trending:Up because Jones’ 11 sacks helped Arizona lead the league in that category while improving on defense overall.
After spending his first four years with the New England Patriots, Jones adjusted nicely to life with the Cardinals. He bolstered Arizona’s pass rush by recording 11 sacks and four forced fumbles.
More importantly, the addition of Jones to the pass rush helped Arizona lead the NFL in sacks with 48. With Jones playing well in the desert, it makes sense that Arizona GM Steve Keim would like to get a long-term deal done with the pass rusher.
The next Cardinal on Sando’s list was veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell.
The Cardinals re-signed Tyrann Mathieu and acquired Chandler Jones last offseason, perhaps signaling that re-signing Campbell might rank lower on their list of priorities.
Trending: Up because Campbell collected eight sacks, forced two fumbles and picked off a pass this season.
Even at age 30, Campbell is still quite productive. His eight sacks are the second most he’s had in a season, so it looks like he still has some gas in the tank.
However, Sando thinks Arizona could prioritize Jones over Campbell, leaving Campbell as the odd man out.
Safety Tony Jefferson rounded out the Cardinals on Sando’s list of promising free agents.
Jefferson became a full-time starter in 2016 and flourished in the role, helping Arizona rank third in defensive expected points added (EPA).
Trending:Up because he made the most of the opportunity to become a full-time player.
Jefferson, who started the first 14 games of 2016 before a knee injury ended his season early, will likely have the lowest price tag of his fellow free agent teammates. However, the 24-year-old looks like he’s on his way to a successful career in the NFL after posting a career-high 92 tackles, with his 13 tackles for loss leading NFL defensive backs.