NY Giants should be all in on Chandler Jones after he requests a trade
By David Solow
The NY Giants are in a position to be contenders in 2021, which means they should do what they can to add Chandler Jones from the Arizona Cardinals.
All-Pro pass rusher Chandler Jones requested a trade from the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, according to reports, and the NY Giants would be an ideal landing spot for talented veteran.
The former Patriot had 19 sacks in his last full season in 2019 for the Cardinals and is still considered one of the elite pass rushers in the NFL, despite an injury-ravaged season in 2020.
Why should the Giants pursue the 31-year-old defensive end?
The NY Giants’ defense is on the rise, after ranking in the top 10 last season, but the unit still lacks a pass-rushing threat off of the edge that other teams need to worry about.
Jones would be the NY Giants’ best defensive end since 2011 Jason Pierre Paul. JPP helped carry New York’s defense to the franchise’s 4th Super Bowl that season, and Jones is capable of similar dominance.
This is why Dave Gettleman should reunite Chandler Jones with Joe Judge (they won Super Bowl XLIX together in New England.)
Jones’ pass-rushing prowess, combined with Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence on the inside, would make the NY Giants’ defense among the best in the NFL.
Outside pass rusher is the only perceived weakness on the defense heading into 2021, especially when you consider their best outside linebacker (Lorenzo Carter) is coming off of a torn Achilles tendon.
Gettleman did an excellent job shoring up the secondary this offseason, adding cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who has the 4th highest PFF outside CB coverage grade since 2018. James Bradberry is coming off a tremendous Pro-Bowl season (and an All-Pro snub), which makes the NY Giants’ secondary among the best in the NFL. With three starting-caliber safeties (Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan, and Xavier McKinney), Patrick Graham already has plenty of studs to work with.
Chandler Jones could make major impact for NY Giants
Adding Jones to an already great defensive unit would send the signal that the NY Giants are going all in. With Daniel Jones still on his rookie contract, the NY Giants have a major advantage over the other contenders in the NFC … They don’t allocate too much of their salary cap to the quarterback position. They are capable of spending more at other positions.
Gettleman should trade for Chandler Jones and build the kind of dominant defense around Daniel Jones that the Seattle Seahawks built around a young Russel Wilson. Seattle, with their dominant defense, was a Malcolm Butler interception away from winning back-to-back Super Bowls. The Giants could be a Chandler Jones away from being contenders in the NFC in 2021.