The Las Vegas Raiders have made their first big splash in free agency by signing Chandler Jones. The AFC West has become one of the most competitive divisions in the league over the last few years, and this off-season has capitalized on that. After the Broncos traded for Russell Wilson, the Raiders now must face three of the top ten quarterbacks in the league twice a year.
This begged the question, how was Las Vegas going to respond? Head coach Josh McDaniels and new general manager Dave Ziegler knew Jones was just the right guy.
Super Bowl champ and 4-time Pro Bowler comes to Las Vegas
After days of anticipation, Chandler Jones has agreed to terms with the Raiders. Jones was one of the biggest names on the market this year, landing in the top five of many free agency lists. There weren’t many rumors regarding where Jones might land, so his signing with Las Vegas was a welcome surprise.
Jones is an outside linebacker heading into his eleventh year in the league. He has gotten the Pro-Bowl nod on four separate occasions, including 2021. He has one Super Bowl Championship from his time in New England, and hopes to win another one in Las Vegas.
Jones brings an unbelievable talent to play opposite of Pro-Bowl MVP Maxx Crosby. In 2021, he had an incredible 5-sack game in Week 1. Throughout the rest of the season, Jones tallied up another five sacks, bringing his regular season total to 10.
On top of an impressive number of sacks, Jones had six forced fumbles last season. That number was good for most in the league. His 89.9 pass rush grade per PFF is one of the highest in the league, guiding him to a 70.4 overall grade.
Jones brings top-tier talent to complement Maxx Crosby’s elite level play. In a division that has so many talented QB’s, maximizing their pass rush ability was at the top of the list for the new Raiders regime. It’s clear they found that in Jones.
In 2022, look for Jones and Crosby to be the most consistent edge rushers on the field in silver and black. As of now, they are set to rotate out with Malcolm Koonce, Clelin Ferrell, and Gerri Green. However, as free agency progresses and the NFL draft approaches, this list may adjust.