The Arizona Cardinals’ partnership with All-Pro linebacker Chandler Jones might be over before it even started. Multiple reports say that Jones has asked the Cardinals to trade him after two sides could not agree on a new deal.
Jones’ last contract was for five years and $82.5 million back in 2017. The 31-year-old player is currently set to earn $15.5 million in 2021 but would like to get a raise and several more years added to the deal.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Arizona is currently unwilling to accommodate Chandler’s contract demands but are also unlikely to trade him at the moment.
The reason why the Cardinals don’t want to pay Chandler’s desired price might have something to do with the injury he had last season. Chandler was limited to just five games in 2020 due to torn biceps, and the team likely wants to see how he looks on the pitch before making a big commitment.
Arizona also doesn’t exactly have much money to spend after signing JJ Watt, making DeAndre Hopkins the highest-paid wide receiver in the game, and giving Budda Baker a near-record deal for safety.
If the Cardinals remain firm in their decision not to trade Jones, he might play out the 2021 year and then hit the free agency. He has an option to hold out as well, but this doesn’t seem likely due to the NFL’s new rules.
Chandler joined the Cardinals in 2016 after previously spending the first four years of his pro career with the New England Patriots. He has been a force to reckon with when healthy, totaling 97 career sacks and adding 27 forced fumbles in his nine years in NFL. He has two First-Team All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl nods while winning a Super Bowl ring with the Pats in the 2015 NFL season.
