Chandler Jones put up some monster numbers for the Arizona Cardinals, but it appears that their inability to give him the numbers he wanted has sent him to play elsewhere. Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that the defensive end was signing with the Las Vegas Raiders on a deal that is expected to come in around $17 million per year.
Expect this deal to come in around $17 million a year. Big money for Chandler Jones and a big get for the new regime in Las Vegas. https://t.co/3o8dL8ytSU
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2022
Jones certainly earned that money in recent seasons. The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher finished the 2019 season with 53 tackles, 19 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. After injuries cut his 2020 season short, he came back with a vengeance in 2021, opening the year with a five-sack performance in Week 1. He eventually garnered 10.5 sacks, 41 tackles, four passes defended, and six forced fumbles.
The Syracuse product spent four seasons with the New England Patriots before being traded to the Cardinals in 2016. When the team decided not to franchise tag him following this season, that effectively made him a free agent.
With the Raiders, he enters the AFC West where some of the top quarterbacks in the league will sling the ball next season and teams have been imported top defensive talent to try and stop them.
The news that Jones would be suiting up for the silver and black next season certainly led to some strong reactions on social media, especially when it came to how it played into the story of the AFC West next year.
AFC West defensive lines
Chargers: Bosa & Mack (and maybe Jordan Davis)
Raiders: Crosby & Jones (and maybe Devonte Wyatt)
Broncos: Gregory & Chubb (in theory)
Chiefs: Jones & Clark (okay, not as good) https://t.co/M6Rz7qd7gU— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 16, 2022
The AFCW continues to load up on talent. https://t.co/USfWkEWm8P
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 16, 2022
That's a surprise, thought the favorite was Buffalo. He now joins Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue for what figures to be a hellacious pass rush https://t.co/vCCkBv8VP4
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) March 16, 2022
There it is. AFC WEST has the QBs and plenty of people to get after them. RAIDERS just raised the stakes Chandler Jones, Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. GOOD LAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/KHv57HJHYq
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 16, 2022
Welp. The former @CuseFootball star has a new home and that doesn’t say #Bills. 😔 https://t.co/xQezVGa7bZ
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) March 16, 2022
SIRIUSXM SUPER STAR TOMMY P DROPPING A BOMB. WHAT A SENSATIONAL MOVE BY THE RAIDERS! https://t.co/BYsIYOjGQo
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) March 16, 2022
Circle those AFC West games on next season’s NFL schedule. They are gonna be wild.
