This one should surprise Falcons fans. According to Jordan Schultz, the Falcons aren’t just looking in the bargain aisles of free agency as earlier reports indicated; Atlanta is interested in signing free agent edge defender Chandler Jones.
Chandler Jones’ market is about to heat up. #Seahawks, #Broncos, #Dolphins, #Falcons – among others – all eyeing the All-Decade performer, who only just turned 32. Im told Jones will command at least $15-18M on the open market. He wants to play for a contender.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 11, 2022
At 32-years-old, Jones isn’t in his prime anymore but remains a highly-productive pass rusher. He’s won a Super Bowl, signed lucrative contracts, and will now test free agency for the first time. His highest priority isn’t money, though, which should favor the Falcons’ cap-strapped front office. The most important thing is scheme fit.
“It’s not about money at all,” Jones told his former Patriots teammate Logan Ryan on the “NFL Players Podcast” this week. “Where I am in my career, I’ve gotten contracts, I’ve gotten a Super Bowl, but scheme is huge or for me it’s winning more championships. I’ll say it again, it’s not about money. I will say, I want to go to a place that maximizes my talents. … When it comes to my decision, where does Chandler Jones become Chandler Jones – where does he maximize his talent? …
“I’ll say this again, what team maximizes Chandler Jones’ talents?”
Dean Pees runs a similar defense to Bill Belichick’s, which Jones played in during his early NFL career and thrived. It is a seamless scheme fit, and the Falcons could end up spending serious money on a difference-maker. However, Jones did say it’s about winning championships too, so the Falcons don’t make sense in this criteria because they couldn’t be further away from that.
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