The Arizona Cardinals have opted to use their 2017 franchise tag on outside linebacker Chandler Jones. How will this impact the Cardinals this offseason?
One of the most-talented potential free agents has been hit with the franchise tag. The Arizona Cardinals have used the franchise tag on outside linebacker Chandler Jones, per Albert Breer of The MMQB.
Arizona acquired Jones in a deal last summer with the New England Patriots involving underwhelming guard Jonathan Cooper. The Patriots ended up cutting Cooper, but it seems that Jones will be in Glendale for the foreseeable future.
The Cardinals have officially placed the franchise tag on OLB/DE Chandler Jones.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 27, 2017
The Cardinals and Cooper will have until July 15 to put together a long-term deal. Otherwise, the Cardinals will have to pay the terrific pass rushing linebacker $14.129 million for the 2017 NFL season.
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim had roughly $35 million in available cap space to make his team better. Bringing back Jones was a no-brainer, but it is now up in the air about what happens with the two other big free agents to be in the Cardinals defense: Defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson.
Campbell has spent his entire NFL career in Arizona. While his is in his 30s, it doesn’t seem likely that the Cardinals will be willing to let a locker room and the leader of the Arizona front-seven leave this offseason.
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However, the same cannot be said for Jefferson. Jefferson completed his four-rookie deal after being undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2013. With two other strong defensive backs on the Cardinals roster in cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, Jones’ signing could mean the end of Jefferson’s stay in Arizona. The Cardinals may want him back, but he’s played his way out of Glendale financially.