Cardinals’ signing of Chandler Jones earns ‘C+’ grade from one analyst

Even before he signed his massive contract with the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, everyone knew that outside linebacker Chandler Jones would be in the desert in 2017.

The Cardinals used the franchise tag on Jones, meaning that even if he didn’t come to terms on a new multi-year deal with the team during the negotiating window which expires July 15, he’d play under a one-year deal that paid him an average salary of the top five outside linebackers in the league.

Both sides avoided that when the Cardinals gave Jones a five-year pact worth $83 million, $53 of which is guaranteed.

Many experts are handing out grades on free agent signings around the league, including Bill Barnwell of ESPN.

And while the Cardinals secured the services of a dynamic 25-year-old pass rusher who ranked in the league’s top ten in sacks in 2016, Barnwell was less than blown away by the deal, giving it a ‘C+’.

You don’t see ads on TV for Ferraris, do you? It’s hard to get discounts on premium talent, and the Cardinals weren’t ever going to get much of one on Jones. We’ll have to wait for the year-to-year details to get a sense of where this contract truly stands compared to other edge rushers, but Jones’ new deal gives him $83 million over five years with $53 million in guarantees.

The obvious comparison is to the contract Olivier Vernon signed with the Giants last year. Vernon’s five-year deal was worth $85 million and held $52.5 million in guarantees. Jones is the better edge rusher of the two, but Vernon is considered to be better against the run. Jones would have gotten more, but there’s one more important factor. Vernon was a true unrestricted free agent and allowed to negotiate with any team, while Jones was franchised by the Cardinals and prevented from hitting the free market. The Cardinals didn’t get much of a discount, but even Ferrari has to sell cars.

Jones registered 11 sacks in his first year in Arizona and teamed with outside linebacker Markus Golden (12.5 sacks) to form the backbone of the NFL’s most productive pass rush. The Cardinals led the league with 48 sacks for 374 yards in losses.

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