PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals, in an anticipated move, have placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on outside linebacker Chandler Jones after failing to reach a long-term deal with the player.
The non-exclusive tag allows the Cardinals to continue negotiating with Jones through July 15. If another team makes him an offer, Arizona can either match it or receive two first-round draft picks.
It’s unlikely that any team would express interest in Jones, however, given what it would cost.
Under the franchise tag, Jones would receive about $15 million for the coming season.
Acquired in a trade with New England a year ago, Jones had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 15 tackles for loss last season
Jones has 25 1-2 sacks over the past two seasons, third-most in the NFL over that span.
The Cardinals’ move came two days before the NFL deadline for making franchise designations.
It also came on Jones’ 27th birthday, prompting teammate David Johnson to tweet “Happy BDay to ’The Man,’ ’Mr. Franchise’ himself…..The one and only.”
The franchise tag move came as no surprise.
Club President Michael Bidwill has stated all along that Jones would not be going anywhere, that the team didn’t make the trade - sending guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round draft pick to New England - to keep him just for one season.
“We’re not going to mess around with that,” Bidwill said in a recent interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “He’s a great pass rusher, but if we can’t agree to terms that work for us, we’re just going to franchise him, and his people know that.”
Jones immediately upgraded what had been an average Cardinals pass rush at best. His fellow outside linebacker Markus Golden had 12 1-2 sacks and seven tackles for loss. Together they form one of the better outside pass rush combinations in the NFL.
By all accounts, the contract talks with Jones have been cordial and Jones has said he wants to stay in Arizona.
“I love it here,” he said near the end of last season. “I love the vibe that the people give off and I can see myself being here for a long time.”
Chandler heads a long list of free agents that the Cardinals must either re-sign or let go. That group includes starters defensive tackle Calais Campbell, safety Tony Jefferson and inside linebacker Kevin Minter.
Later Monday, the Cardinals announced they had re-signed linebacker Gabe Martin and wide receiver Jeremy Ross to one-year contracts.
Martin played in eight games with four tackles, with two special teams tackles and a special teams fumble recovery. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve after a knee injury on Nov. 18.
Ross played in two games for the Cardinals, with four catches for 37 yards, after he was signed on Dec. 14, eight days after he was released by the New York Jets.
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