Might Chandler Jones End Up in Minnesota?
K. Joudry
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We’ve long known that Minnesota has some work to do at edge rusher, just as we’ve known that finances are limited. That hasn’t stopped people from connecting the dots between the Vikings and Chandler Jones.
The appeal for Minnesota would be obvious. Even at 32, Jones is an elite pass rusher. Last season, he finished with the 9th overall pass rush grade on PFF. He put together 10.5 sacks and forced 6 fumbles last season. He had 36 pressures and knocked the QB down 17 times.
Plus, he insists that the main thing motivating him now isn’t money:
Partner that with some recent Chandler Jones social media posts that hint at some interest in the Vikings and it’s easy to see why fans and writers are making the connection.
Some have also pointed out the history with Jordan Hicks and Patrick Peterson. Perhaps these personal connections will make the prospect of joining Minnesota more appealing.
One concern in his run defense. Overall, Jones sits at 49th in the PFF EDGE rankings due to his horrible 40.4 run grade score. It’s worth wondering if his previous comments about being used the right way is about that portion of his game. Did he struggle in Arizona due to the way they opted to deploy him on running downs? If so, it’s possible he’ll be looking for a spot that puts him in a better position to succeed against the run.
As it stands, the Vikings are under the cap, per OTC. However, they don’t have anywhere close to enough to sign someone of Jones’ abilities. Shifting money around for Eric Kendricks, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and/or Harrison Smith could do the trick. Danielle Hunter, of course, is the other name that stands out. His $26 million cap hit can’t stand.
So, don’t hold your breath on this one, but don’t totally discount it either. Signing him would be a major move, one that would reinvigorate a fan base that has been skeptical about how slowly free agency is proceeding.
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