Earlier this month Malik Jackson reset the market for defensive ends when he left Denver and headed to Jacksonville, lured by a six-year deal worth about $45 million guaranteed and up to $90 million with incentives.
Big money. Big risk, also.
Chandler Jones was staring at a similar payday following the 2015 season. He has proven to be an elite, if at times inconsistent, edge rusher in New England, recording a career high 12.5 sacks last season.
He's also a guy who showed up shirtless and disoriented at the Foxborough police department the week of the AFC championship game, dealing with what the Boston Globe later reported was an adverse reaction to synthetic marijuana.
You want to give $50 million to someone capable of that, no matter his sack total?
Maybe that was Bill Belichick's concern or maybe he just couldn't pass up the opportunity of moving someone at a position of depth for someone at a position of weakness. The converse is true out of the Arizona Cardinals, who coveted a pass rush more than waiting on a once-promising offensive line prospect to pan out.
So Tuesday a deal was consummated, New England traded Jones to Arizona, which already boasts an exceptional defense. In return the Cardinals sent underperforming offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper, a former top-10 pick, and a second-round choice in 2016 to the Pats.
The move is full of intrigue on both sides. Who won may not be known for awhile. If it works for both sides, then everyone could meet up in next year's Super Bowl and try to hash it out. That's how big this deal could be.
Jones gives Arizona a potentially devastating pass rush because its secondary is already so strong. When he is on, there are few better. He recorded nine multi-sack games in his four-year career, including four last season. The Cardinals, who fell in the NFC championship game last season, are trying to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl while quarterback Carson Palmer is still in his prime.
"The Lord has answered my prayers," defensive back Patrick Peterson said via Twitter.
The move is a gamble only because all moves are gambles. Re-signing Jones won't be easy or cheap, but Cooper had fallen on hard times and the second-round pick mattered more to the Patriots because New England was stripped a first- and fourth-round selection due to deflate-gate.
Belichick has made a habit of trading commodities a year early in an effort to receive some compensation (think Richard Seymour in 2009). That said, he's also been burned by doubling-down on guys who showed signs of risk, most notably giving a huge contract to tight end Aaron Hernandez one season before he was arrested and later convicted of homicide.
Chandler isn't that kind of risk. His behavior that January morning was disconcerting though, especially if New England was going to commit long-term despite having to handle the contracts of a slew of impact defensive players. Jones' performance a few days after the incident at the police station, in the AFC title game against the Broncos? One tackle. At defensive end, the Patriots still have Rob Ninkovich (6.5 sacks) and Jabaal Sheard (8.0 sacks).
Meanwhile New England's offensive line was so weak that quarterback Tom Brady spent the entire Denver game running for his life, forcing quick passes and eventually losing, 20-18. Considering how Denver beat Carolina by two touchdowns in the Super Bowl, there is a belief in Foxborough that a Lombardi Trophy was kicked away due to the offensive line.
Cooper almost can't help but upgrade that position, although how much will determine this deal. He was the seventh overall pick out of North Carolina in the 2013 draft but injuries and poor play soured things in Arizona. New England is believed to have been enamored with him then and obviously the hope is a change of scenery brings out his potential.
Meanwhile, the Patriots now have the 60th and 61st picks in the draft.
Carson Palmer will turn 37 during the 2016 season. Tom Brady will turn 39. For the franchises who came closest to the Super Bowl only to have to watch on television, the future is now, which was obvious on Tuesday.
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