Time has come for Cardinals to move on from Chandler Jones

Chandler Jones has done great things for the Arizona Cardinals, but the time has come to cut ties with the Pro Bowl linebacker.

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim is going to have some difficult personnel decisions to make over the next several months. The longtime executive will have to evaluate the club’s laundry list of free agents, and some will not be back with Arizona in 2022.

One player that the Cards could very well move on from is Chandler Jones. It appears that the organization has come to a crossroads with the sack specialist, and it may be time for the two parties to go their separate ways.

There’s a very good possibility that Jones will ask for more money than the Cardinals front office will be willing to spend. The Pro Bowl edge-rusher will be looking to cash in on a campaign in which he totaled 10.5 sacks for the defense, but that impressive number could be totally deceiving.

Production of Chandler Jones for Arizona Cardinals plummeted after first game in 2021

Jones appeared to be well on his way to a monster year in 2021 after he registered five sacks versus the Tennessee Titans on opening day. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder’s production took a plunge after that outstanding performance, leading to speculation about Jones’ worth going forward.

Take away his five takedowns of quarterback Ryan Tannehill against the Titans (as unfair as that may be to do), and Jones’ sack numbers over the past two seasons look frighteningly mediocre. In his 19 other appearances since the 2019 campaign, the former Syracuse University product has tallied just 6.5 sacks.

The kind of money that Jones will likely command on the open market could be better spent elsewhere by Keim and his cohorts. One potential free agent who the Redbirds could show some interest in is Von Miller, the pass-rusher who’s been performing at a high level for the Los Angeles Rams. Another possible replacement for Jones is Haason Reddick, the former Cards draft selection who totaled 11 sacks for the Carolina Panthers this past fall.

The deal for Jones will go down as one of the greatest acquisitions in Cardinals’ history. However, all good things must come to an end. There’s a fairly good chance that Jones will be rushing the passer for another franchise in 2022.