The Cardinals have signed linebacker Jarvis Jones to a one-year deal, the club announced today. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier today (Twitter link) that Jones was expected to sign with Arizona.
Jones joins the Cardinals hours after the team lost outside linebacker Alex Okafor to the Saints. Having already seen veteran defender Calais Campbell sign with the Jaguars, Arizona is now seeking to rebuild an edge rush that ranked third in adjusted sack rate in 2016. Chandler Jones (no relation to Jarvis) has already been extended on a hefty contract, and now Jarvis Jones will add another element to the pass rush.
Selected 13th overall in 2013, Jones has only posted six sacks in four NFL seasons. He recorded a career-high 43 tackles in 2016, however, and started nine games for the Steelers, playing on slightly less than half of the club’s defensive snaps. While he’s not a pure pass rusher, Jones is still a solid run defender, and graded as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 49 edge player last year in large part due to his stoutness against opposing rushing attacks.
The Rams were hoping to meet with Jones, but Arizona did not let him leave without a deal. The Rams were said to be “very intrigued” by the fifth-year pass-rusher.
He was a monster in college, surprised he hasn’t had more success.
Yeah not like players never put up monster numbers in college and then fizzle in the pros.
Anybody can look like a monster in the weak SEC.