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Defensive Notes

Chandler Jones

Elite pass rusher should be free

Aaron Donald is a Super Bowl champion, one of the game's best defenders sitting atop the football world. It looks like another such player is headed for free agency, with the report that the Arizona Cardinals aren't expected to franchise pass rusher Chandler Jones.

The Cardinals, as noted elsewhere on the site, have a tricky situation with Kyler Murray facing them, and several other key free agents -- running backs, receivers. Jones and the team squabbled over his contract last offseason, and it looks like now he'll get a chance to see what the market thinks he's worth. He just turned 32 years old, but coming off his third Pro Bowl in his last four healthy seasons (he missed 11 games in 2020), it's clear he's got plenty of game left.

Even with that missed time a year ago, Jones has recorded 84 sacks in his last seven seasons -- 12 per year, with double-digits in all but one of those years. The only player with more sacks in that timeframe is Donald (89), and he did it in 12 more games. Only four players have more hits on the quarterback in those years. I've seen Jones connected to the Ravens, but a bidding war with several teams involved wouldn't be surprising.

The search tools at pro-football-reference.com were used in compiling the below table.

NFL SACK LEADERS, 2015-PRESENT
PlayerGSkSoloAstCombTFLQBHits
Aaron Donald11189.0247146393132213
Chandler Jones9984.02376930691149
Cameron Jordan11278.0264113377106156
Khalil Mack10172.52939839187124
T.J. Watt7772.02167829480150
Von Miller9466.52387631482142
Carlos Dunlap11060.521611132772155
Danielle Hunter8560.5216983147390
Myles Garrett6858.51406320359116
Joey Bosa7958.02137829173129
Ryan Kerrigan10857.5151582096895
Mario Addison10757.0145772225888
Everson Griffen9556.01778225962138
Robert Quinn9356.0145592045590
Yannick Ngakoue9555.51452817357119
Frank Clark10553.51556922459118
Justin Houston9053.5190602506698
Cameron Heyward10253.024914839778117
Shaquil Barrett10751.52368131764110
Calais Campbell10750.026412238682140
Chris Jones9049.51386119948117
Jason Pierre-Paul9049.5230883185791
Preston Smith11249.519710730456110
DeMarcus Lawrence9648.520011231272100
Matt Judon9347.02059129668128
Fletcher Cox10945.52049830258116
DeForest Buckner9545.024314638958118
Melvin Ingram9945.02258230764108
J.J. Watt7145.01777525274133
Markus Golden9444.51849127555110
Za'Darius Smith9144.51487922753112
Geno Atkins8843.5124892135797
Bud Dupree9242.5182662485673
Brandon Graham9742.0216782947891
Olivier Vernon7942.01777725462119
Jadeveon Clowney9341.02058028583105
Whitney Mercilus9140.0153872405281
Denico Autry10339.5157632205770
Michael Bennett7439.01316119275118
Leonard Floyd8738.51761032794481
Dee Ford6938.5113381514374
Vic Beasley8837.5122381603746
Cameron Wake6237.579351142886
Emmanuel Ogbah8336.0144932373785
Bruce Irvin8435.5151692204785
Leonard Williams11235.519820640453145
Ezekiel Ansah6335.0118371554381
Dante Fowler9135.0137632004459

Jones isn't the only free agent on the above list. Donald's current teammate with the Rams, Von Miller, also shows up. The Rams would surely likely to keep him around after trading for him at the deadline, but he'll also have a market. Danielle Hunter will probably be available (huge roster bonus due later this month), and Emmanuel Ogbah is another player headed for free agency. It's a good year to be looking for veteran pass rushers, but the top-shelf guys won't be cheap.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index