TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals do not plan on letting outside linebacker Chandler Jones leave in free agency.
During his end-of-season news conference Monday, coach Bruce Arians said the team will use its franchise tag "in a heartbeat on the right guy."
Then he added, "No. 55 -- not to mention any names," referring to Jones' jersey number.
Jones, whom the Cardinals traded for in March, finished the season with 11 sacks -- 1.5 below his career high -- and helped Arizona's defense lead the league with 48 sacks.
He made $7.799 million this season, the last of his rookie contract. The projected franchise-tag salary is $14.754 million for a linebacker and $16.955 million for a defensive end, according to CBS Sports. Although Jones is listed as an outside linebacker, he'd earn about $2.2 million more as a defensive end, which could play into the negotiations.
Jones told ESPN last week that he didn't concern himself with his contract or the potential of free agency. Now that the Cardinals' season is over, however, Jones understands his future needs to be addressed.
If the Cardinals and Jones can't agree to a new deal soon, the Cardinals can give Jones the franchise tag anytime from Feb. 15 to March 1. Regardless of which position he gets tagged under, the Cardinals want Jones back for next season.
"Chandler's not going anywhere because if we have to, we will franchise him," Arians said. "Hopefully we will get it all done and be able to move on."