Could Chandler Jones top Von Miller’s guaranteed money?
Could Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Chandler Jones top Von Miller’s guaranteed money in the 2017 offseason? He might be on a mission to do so…
When a player like Von Miller signs a mega contract like he just did, you often wonder what players might be next. The Arizona Cardinals made a trade this offseason with the New England Patriots for Chandler Jones, one of the league’s best young, developing edge players.
I think he could be a player to watch if someone is going to try and top Von Miller’s guaranteed money.
The open market in free agency is a bit different it seems when it comes to teams working for months on long-term deals with their own players in-house. The Cardinals essentially accepted Jones on a rental from the Patriots, getting him with his fifth-year team option which is about $7.78 million in fully guaranteed money.
Did the Cardinals make the trade for a rental, or a long-term investment?
They gave up Jonathan Cooper and a second round pick to get Jones from New England, which would indicate to me that they hope he can be around for some time to come.
The Cardinals will have the cash to extend Jones if they so choose, with Calais Campbell’s contract coming off the books and Patrick Peterson the only other defensive player currently making in the double-digit millions per season.
There are going to be a number of big money contracts the Cardinals have to worry about in the 2017 offseason, but having a consistent pass rush is proven to be the only thing capable of dismembering an elite offensive attack anymore. You have to get pressure on the quarterback, and the Cardinals made a significant number of investments in that area this offseason.
Not the least of which was the acquisition of Chandler Jones, who is developing into one of the league’s best edge rushers that can win with speed, power, quickness, and create turnovers in an instant.
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If Jones has a big year, he’ll be getting offers that he can’t even currently fathom on the open market. I don’t know if he will surpass Von Miller’s $70 million in guarantees — the highest of any defensive player ever — but the bar has been set. Jones’ agent is going to look at that Miller deal as a starting point for his client.
Jones needs to vault himself into the elite echelon of edge players this season to be under consideration for that kind of money, but maybe not. Look at Olivier Vernon’s deal with the Giants…
It only takes one team, and while the Cardinals have a number of other players to take care of next offseason, Jones could be at the top of the priority list.