Written by Jared Dubin at CBSSports.com
Chandler Jones was one of seven NFL players to receive the franchise tag , but he’s not going to be playing on that mere one-year guaranteed deal. According to a report from NFL Network, Jones is finalizing a five-year deal to stay with the Cardinals.
Sources: The #AZCardinals and franchised tagged pass-rusher Chandler Jones are finalizing a 5-year extension. Going to be large.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2017
Jones seem to confirm the news on Twitter shortly after the report surfaced.
👀😩😝
— ♛Chandler Jones (@chanjones55) March 8, 2017
Jones was acquired from the New England Patriots last offseason in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick. He finished his first season in Arizona with 11 sacks and 66 quarterback pressures.
Terms of Jones’ deal have not yet been disclosed, but a look at the top of the pass-rusher market (the NFL Network report did call the deal “large,” after all) and the value of his franchise tag may provide some guidance. Jones was set to earn $14.55 million on the tag in 2017, per Spotrac, and recent deals for star pass-rushers have averaged between $15 million to $19 million per year. It’s fair to expect Jones’ contract to fall within that range as well, with somewhere between $35 million to $45 million of that total being guaranteed.
Re-signing Jones was a major priority for the Cardinals this offseason, but they still have several important defensive players hitting free agency. Safety Tony Jefferson is expected to command a significant deal, while star defensive lineman Calais Campbell seems likely to leave the team, given the other financial commitments the Cardinals will have to make.
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