The Arizona Cardinals are taking care of business with one of their defensive standouts.
The Cardinals finalized a five-year contract extension with Chandler Jones on Friday, the team announced. The deal pays out $82.5 million with $53 million in guarantees, a source informed of the contract told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Jones will average $17 million over the first three years of the deal.
The Cardinals franchise tagged the pass rusher on a tender that pays roughly $14.6 million in 2017.
Arizona made it clear that locking down Jones was a priority heading into the offseason. The franchise tag was merely a placeholder to allow time to get a deal done. The new deal should put him among the likes of Von Miller, Olivier Vernon and Justin Houston as the top-paid pass rushers in the NFL.
After being acquired from the New England Patriots via trade last March, Jones paid immediate dividends in Arizona. The 27-year-old compiled 11 sacks, 21 QB hits, 15 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 2016, per NFL Research.
The pass-rushing maven has given quarterbacks fits. Over the past two seasons, Jones' 23.5 sacks were only outdone by Khalil Mack (26.0) and Miller (24.5).
With Jones and tag-team rusher Markus Golden flying off the edges, the Cards ensured they will be getting after the quarterback in 2017.
