Raiders' Chandler Jones named one of worst free agent signings of 2022
The Las Vegas Raiders made plenty of mistakes this season, and according to Pro Football Focus, singing edge rusher Chandler Jones to a three-year, $51M contract was one of them.
PFF’s Brad Spielberger released his list of the five best and worst free agent signings of 2022 and he ranked Jones among the worst.
“Jones has had a phenomenal career and showed flashes in 2021 once he regained health, but there were enough warning signs to avoid a deal of this magnitude, and other alternatives available for much cheaper considering Las Vegas had just extended edge defender Maxx Crosby,” Spielberger wrote. “Jones has $16M already fully guaranteed for 2023 making his contract seemingly unmovable, and now Las Vegas has to go back to the drawing board at quarterback.”
Jones had arguably the worst non-injury shortened season of his career in 2022. Though he played in 15 of 17 games, he registered just 4.5 sacks — his fewest in a season where he played 14 or more games since his rookie year in 2012 — with 32 quarterback hurries, 10 QB hits, and just nine QB knockdowns.
For comparison, in the previous eight seasons he played 14 or more games, Jones averaged 12.5 sacks, 61 pressures, 37 hurries and 11 hits per year.
Jones, 32, totaled the fewest single-season tackles (38) and sacks and the third-fewest QB hits and pressures of his career.
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