ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals LB Chandler Jones comes in at No. 15 in NFL Top 100

Jul 28, 2020, 7:30 PM | Updated: 11:02 pm

Arizona Cardinals LB Chandler Jones waves to the crowd during the team’s Red and White Practice S...

Arizona Cardinals LB Chandler Jones waves to the crowd during the team’s Red and White Practice Saturday, August 3, 2019, at State Farm Stadium. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

Despite 13 sacks, 18 QB hits, three forced fumbles and 49 tackles, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones was left of the NFL’s Top 100 players last season.

But after getting snubbed in 2019, the linebacker is back among the top ranks of the league, coming in at No. 15 on the list.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to most as Jones caused problems for opposing offenses on a regular basis.

In 16 starts last season, Jones recorded career highs in sacks (19.0) and pass deflections (5), a league-leading eight fumbles and 53 tackles, 11 of which were for losses. He also hit the quarterback 26 times.

The ranking is based on how players around the NFL felt about the athlete and how they performed the year prior.

Prior to last season, Jones had made the top 100 three times as a member of the Cardinals. In 2018, he was ranked as the 28th best player in the NFL after leading the league in sacks (17), tackles for loss (28) and quarterback hits (33) the season prior.

In Jones’ four years playing for Arizona, he has 60 sacks, which is eight more than any other player, per Pro-Football-Reference.

His 17 sacks in 2017 and 19 last season makes Jones one of two players to reach at least 17 sacks twice in the last 10 seasons, joining the Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.

Jones had those seasons after signing a five-year, $83 million extension prior to the 2017 season, leaving him under contract through 2021, when he will have a cap hit just over $20 million.

Jones joins fellow Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald (69), Kyler Murray (90) and Budda Baker (97) on the list.

And with Jones finally back among the league’s best, it looks like someone’s job is safe for at least another year.

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