Chandler Jones Wants to Sign With Team That 'Maximizes My Talents' in Free Agency

Free-agent-to-be Chandler Jones said this week that money will not be his biggest motivator on the free-agent market.

Appearing on The NFL Players Podcast with New York Giants defensive back and former New England Patriots teammate Logan Ryan (h/t NFL.com's Grant Gordon), Jones gave some insight into what he will prioritize when deciding where to sign in free agency:

"To be completely honest, it's not about money at all. Where I am in my career, I've gotten contracts, I've gotten the Super Bowl, but I think scheme is huge. Or for me, winning more championships. I'll say it again, it's not about money. I will say I want to go to a place that maximizes my talents. There have been times in my career where I'd say I caught myself out of position. I do take the blame, but at the same time it's like, 'Hey, should I have been doing that?' I have enough comfort where I am in my career and this age to say that."

The 32-year-old edge has been one of the NFL's premier pass-rushers throughout his career, as his 107.5 career sacks since entering the league in 2012 are more than anyone else.

In 10 NFL seasons with the Patriots and Cardinals, Jones has earned four Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections. He also won a Super Bowl with the Pats and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-2010s Team.

The Rochester, New York, native and Syracuse alum has reached double-digit sacks in a season seven times, including a career-high 19 in 2019 and an NFL-high 17 in 2017. Jones finished in the top three of NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of those two seasons as well.

Jones missed 11 games in 2020 due to a torn bicep and had only one sack in the five games he played, which led to some questions regarding whether he was still an elite pass-rusher.

The outside linebacker answered those questions emphatically by appearing in 15 of 17 games and finishing with 41 tackles, 10.5 sacks and six forced fumbles en route to a Pro Bowl selection.

Whichever team signs Jones will be getting one of the top pass-rushers of his generation, as he has racked up 473 tackles, 107.5 sacks and 33 forced fumbles in 139 career regular-season games.

Pro Football Focus ranks Jones as the No. 3 available free agent, with Von Miller of the Los Angeles Rams being the only pass-rusher ahead of him.

He would constitute a huge impact signing for essentially any team in the league, but the teams that can offer him a combination of scheme fit and the chance to vie for a championship seemingly have the best opportunity to land him.