Cardinals Reach Agreement with Former Bears Cornerback
Cornerback was widely expected to be a key focus for the Arizona Cardinals during the 2025 NFL offseason. The unit showed promise last season, with Garrett Williams impressing in his rookie campaign and Max Melton earning valuable playing time. However, there was still room for improvement. At this stage of free agency, the opportunity for a major acquisition has passed, but the Cardinals have made a move to bolster their depth.
According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Arizona has agreed to a deal with former Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Jones. Jones, who went undrafted in 2022, spent three seasons with the Bears. His best year came as a rookie, when he recorded 47 tackles and two pass breakups. Since then, his role on defense has diminished, playing just 14% of defensive snaps in 2023 while shifting primarily to special teams, where he logged 335 snaps. His playing time decreased even further this past season, appearing in just eight games with 76 defensive snaps and 140 special teams snaps. Despite the limited action, he contributed 15 tackles and two defended passes.
Jones now joins the Cardinals, where he will provide additional depth at cornerback and likely play a significant role on special teams. While not a headline-grabbing move, he could be a solid addition to round out the roster.
ARIZONA – After an active start to free agency, the Arizona Cardinals have made significant defensive upgrades, adding key players like Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson to revamp their front seven. Now, with much of the heavy spending complete, the team’s focus shifts to the offensive side of the ball.
While addressing the need for a starting right guard remains a priority, adding another wide receiver is also high on Arizona’s to-do list heading into the 2025 season. With promising young targets like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson already on the roster, the Cardinals could still benefit from additional veteran experience.
NFL.com recently suggested that Arizona would be a strong fit for Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper.
“This was the most difficult player to place with a team, because Cooper has entered unenviable territory: He is a veteran receiver who likes playing for a contender but might not fit in with all of them,” wrote Nick Shook.
Cooper, who was a midseason addition for the Buffalo Bills, had an underwhelming stint, catching a touchdown in his first game before gradually fading from the rotation. He finished the season with just 32 targets in eight games—significantly fewer than the 53 he saw in six games with the Cleveland Browns earlier in the year.
“If he can’t make a difference in an offense led by NFL MVP Josh Allen, where can he? This is why it comes down to fit,” Shook continued. “Let’s instead move him to Arizona, where he can get open for Kyler Murray and become the trusted, experienced target Murray needs on third down. He might be able to help Marvin Harrison Jr. get his trajectory on a better track, too.”
Signing Cooper could be a smart move for the Cardinals, as they need a receiver with strong route-running ability who can create separation. While the team recently re-signed Zay Jones and placed a tender on restricted free agent Greg Dortch, they may still look to add more talent at the position.
Arizona also has six selections in the upcoming NFL Draft, providing another avenue to bolster their receiving corps.
