The Las Vegas Raiders and Chandler Jones are not in a good place right now, and a trade could be coming. Following a public profanity-led tirade on Instagram in which Jones stated he no longer wanted to play for the organization, head coach Josh McDaniels didn’t exactly do anything to put out the fires. The second-year head coach simply said that it’s a “private” matter but went out of his way to note that Jones is “not a captain.”
Coach McDaniels fielded questions on Chandler Jones with the media. pic.twitter.com/Cszf9785Tk
— AFL Godfather
(@NFLMAVERICK) September 6, 2023
Maybe Jones comes back when game checks are on the line, but for the time being, it’s hard to envision him in a Raiders jersey any time soon. The former first-round pick is not the player he once was, but he can still be a valuable part of the right organization. In 2021, Jones recorded 10.5 sacks for the Arizona Cardinals and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. If that version of Jones is still around, then there should be a few contenders willing to kick the tires on the 33-year-old.
5 Teams That Should Trade For Chandler Jones
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints lost a lot of talent on the defensive line over the past few months. While they still have Cameron Jordan and a promising rookie in Isaiah Foskey, they could use another veteran to round out the depth chart. A Chandler Jones trade makes all the sense in the world, especially in a division like the NFC South. All the other quarterbacks in the division are either career journeymen or young, untested players, so they should be especially susceptible to a pass rush.
Cincinnati Bengals
In today’s pass-happy NFL, elite teams need at least three players who are capable of getting after the quarterback. This is especially true for the Bengals, as they’ll need to go through an insane amount of quarterback talent if they want to stand atop the AFC for the second time in three years. Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson are good players, but they need a third option in case first-round pick Myles Murphy isn’t ready to hit the ground running. A Chandler Jones trade would solve all of their issues along the defensive line, ensuring they have at least three adequate pass rushers and giving them insane depth if Murray lives up to his first-round billing.
Chicago Bears
A Chandler Jones trade makes sense for any contending organization, the only question is whether the Bears believe they can compete for the NFC North in 2023. The division is up for grabs with Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, and if Justin Fields makes a Year 3 leap, then the sky is the limit for this organization. Chicago already improved their defense in both the NFL Draft and free agency, but there are still some holes in the front seven. Jones will help turn this unit around and possibly propel the Bears to the top of their division for the first time since 2018.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be one of the better teams in the league as long as Trevor Lawrence continues to build on his promising second season. However, they could use a better pass rush if they want to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Travon Walker didn’t play up to his draft billing last year, and while he clearly belongs in the NFL, he might not be a superstar. That’s totally fine, but it does mean Jacksonville needs to find a complementary player like Chandler Jones that can get after the quarterback.
Baltimore Ravens
On paper, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo have the potential to be one of the better pass-rushing duos in the NFL. However, the two have yet to prove that they can actually do it on the NFL level. For a team that is in the midst of its Super Bowl window, Baltimore needs more security in the event that either player falls short of expectations. Jadeveon Clowney is near the end of the road, and a Chandler Jones trade would probably lead to an improved pass rush.
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