Chandler Jones, Cardinals Agree on 5-Year Contract Extension

The Arizona Cardinals and pass-rusher Chandler Jones agreed to a five-year contract extension, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com announced on Friday morning.

AzCentral.com's Kent Somers and CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora first reported the extension on Thursday. La Canfora provided the contract details at the time:

Urban provided additional financial insight on Friday: "Financial terms were not disclosed, but reportedly will be around $82 million in potential total value and about $53 million guaranteed – in the range of the $52 million guaranteed that Giants pass rusher Olivier Vernon received last offseason. The Arizona Republic reported Jones' cap number will be around $10 million, lowered from the $14.5 million it would have been had he played under the tag."

The New England Patriots traded Jones to the Cardinals last offseason for Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick. The Cardinals have to be pleased with that trade after Jones, 27, finished the 2016 season with 49 tackles, 11.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

He was also able to consistently pressure quarterbacks even when he didn't register a sack, per Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus:

And he's particularly effective from the right side, as Nathan Jahnke of PFF noted:

The team slapped the franchise tag on him in February, though that move was clearly to buy more time to work out a long-term contract extension. Letting Jones walk in free agency was never an option, as the edge-rusher has now posted at least 11 sacks in three of the past four seasons.

The Cardinals have arguably the most dangerous pair of outside linebackers in the NFL in Jones and Markus Golden after the latter notched 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2016 opposite of Jones. That was a huge reason, alongside a talented secondary, that the Cardinals finished fourth in passing yards allowed last season.

Jones is now a pillar of this Cardinals defense along with Golden, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. Had he hit free agency, he would have been one of the most coveted players on the market. Instead, the Cardinals smartly ensured he'll remain in Arizona and will be a major piece for the team as it looks to return to the postseason in 2017.