With the offseason now in full swing, the lists of top players, top prospects and top free agents are coming. One such list is from Pro Football Focus, who gives their top 101 players for the previous season.
In this year’s edition, only one Arizona Cardinals player makes the cut.
It is outside linebacker Chandler Jones, who comes in at No. 47 overall.
Many people will see Chandler Jones’ sack total and expect him to be higher on this list, but while he was second in the league in sacks, he was only eighth in total pressures over the regular season and didn’t get a chance to add to that with a postseason run like some others. Jones’ pass-rushing was excellent overall, and it was certainly the strength of his season for the Cardinals. He earned a PFF pass-rushing grade of 90.0, fifth-best among edge defenders, but his run-defense grade of 71.0 ranked just 34th. However, there is little doubt that Jones was an impact playmaker for Arizona’s defense, which is a fact that can also be highlighted by his eight forced fumbles on the year.
Jones had fewer tackles for loss than his incredibly impactful 2017, but he was special in 2019. He was a true bright spot on a defense that wasn’t that good.
However, getting ranked 11th among edge defenders, it feels like another slight for the pass rusher. At this point, though, that seems to be par for the course for Jones.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 257
Ep. 256
