After a season-ending injury from last season, the Arizona Cardinals could trade $31 million defensive tackle Justin Jones. According to a report, the source believes the Cardinals will be open to trading Jones despite signing him on a three-year contract last year, but he couldn’t live up to expectations. The team has enough talent in the interior defensive line that they could trade Jones to a team that’s in dire need of a defensive tackle. After drafting Walter Nolen and signing both Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, there might be enough room for Jones to prove that he could stay healthy and put on a potential stellar performance this upcoming season.
Originally selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the former NC State product began his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he couldn’t do much since he wasn’t active as much on the field after being placed on injured reserve for a shoulder injury. Jones spent some time in Chicago before finally getting a long-term deal in Arizona, and the injuries just keep piling up for the defensive tackle, even though he’s at his best when healthy. The Cardinals could save about $8 million in cap space if they trade Jones after the June 1 deadline. It’s hard to see if any team out there is willing to trade for him, so the Cardinals could release him so he can sign wherever he wants, and these two teams could pursue Jones.
REPORT: Cardinals Could Trade $31 Million Star Justin Jones – Ravens, Chargers Top Fits?
Old-School Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens barely made any offseason moves to improve their defensive trenches, and now, after losing Ar’Darius Washington in the secondary, the team could be in a hole in their secondary, too. The Ravens want to endure a turnaround in their pass-rushing unit after having one of the worst pass rushes in league history, even though they had a talented Kyle Van Noy, Roquan Smith and Odafe Oweh all on the same. Even though Jadeveon Clowney is a free agent, he might be out of the price range of the Ravens.
Meanwhile, Mosley could take a one-year, cheap, controlled cost deal since he hasn’t been signed for months. Trenton Simpson can’t lead this team unless he proves otherwise and has a breakout season. Malik Harrison left for the Ravens’ rival this offseason, so they’re in dire need of a solution. Mosley won’t be the most complete player on that defensive unit, but he still has some stride in him that Baltimore was missing last year.
Back to Los Angeles
However, the Chargers could use another linebacker in their system. Da’Shawn Hand signing with the Chargers won’t get them far, and he’s not even enough to replace Poona Ford, who was one of the best interior linemen on the defensive roster. They’re hoping that with Teair Tart coming back, the Chargers have the same luck, but that’s hard to imagine when Khalil Mack is the only player on that side of the ball, the best athlete that can hold down the trenches.
Mosley won’t be Ray Lewis 2.0 for Jim Harbaugh’s trenches, but he just needs to get in rotation to help keep this defense alive, especially for the postseason.
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