The Arizona Cardinals will certainly make moves like several NFL teams have begun to do, in order to clear some cap space and create more room to sign free agents this offseason. However, one player will be off-limits.
Outside linebacker Chandler Jones will not be a cap casualty.
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim was asked in his appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM about the possibility that the team could release Jones in a move to clear cap space.
His response? “I’ll reject that.”
Jones has the team’s largest cap hit in 2021. He will count more than $20.8 million against the cap. The Cardinals would save $15.5 million if they cut him.
He only played five games last season before tearing his biceps and landing on injured reserve the rest of the season. He only had one sack in those five games after a career-high 19 in 2019.
Team owner Michael Bidwill has spoken about how Jones will be back on the field in 2021. The team captain will be back.
The question is whether or not the Cardinals will do anything with his contract. They could try to give him a contract extension, which could lessen his cap hit. However, Keim would not say whether he has been in talks with Jones for an extension.
The Cardinals missed Jones on the field last season defensively. They might need cap space but they feel cutting him would cost more on the field than they would save in the salary cap.
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