When New England traded Chandler Jones in March 2016 after his Pro Bowl and Super Bowl victory, Arizona gained a pass rusher near his peak. The Syracuse alum joined the desert team and quickly made the edge his domain, transforming from a solid defender into one of the most disruptive, high-strip-sack players in NFL history.

Jones, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds with an 84-inch wingspan, used his physical advantage to outmatch most edge rushers of his era. His key move—a swift cross-chop combined with a long-arm extension—enabled him to dominate boundary tackles and gain leverage while maintaining speed. What set him apart was his exceptional ball awareness during his rush; instead of just sacking the quarterback, he often targeted the passer's arm, transforming fast rushes into immediate turnovers.

His first season in 2016 in Arizona saw him immediately record 11.0 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. However, his 2017 season set a new standard for individual excellence in franchise history. Transitioning smoothly to outside linebacker, Jones led the entire NFL in both sacks (17.0) and tackles for loss (28). His single-season franchise record for sacks earned him First-Team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl invitation, and a third-place finish in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Even after the franchise switched to a 4-3 defense in 2018, requiring Jones to move to defensive end, he continued to perform at a high level, recording 13.0 sacks. In 2019, he surpassed himself with an outstanding display of edge rush skills. Jones broke his own single-season team record with 19.0 sacks and led the league with 8 forced fumbles, finishing as the runner-up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and earning his second First-Team All-Pro selection as a Cardinal. His 2019 season included two games with four sacks each, establishing him as a key player during an era in which he forced 23 fumbles in a Cardinals uniform.

After suffering a torn bicep that largely sidelined his 2020 season, Jones made a powerful comeback in 2021. He made a major impact by tying the franchise single-game record with 5.0 sacks in the season opener against Tennessee. He ended the season with 10.5 sacks and earned his fourth career Pro Bowl selection. Before moving to Las Vegas in 2022, Jones established himself as Arizona's top modern-era pass rusher. In just 84 games with the team, he accumulated 71.5 sacks, 81 tackles for loss, 131 quarterback hits, and 23 forced fumbles.