Tag: Zay Jones

When wide receiver Zay Jones was signed by the Arizona Cardinals on May 13, initial reports claimed the contract was worth “up to” $4.25 million with the “up to” supposedly including $2 million of potential incentives.

That turned out not to be accurate. Cards Wire has learned there are no incentives in the contract as submitted to the NFLPA, although as managing editor Jess Root reported recently, there are $20,000 per-game active roster bonuses available for a maximum total of $340,000.

That story had the specifics of the one-year, $2.25 million contract that includes $1.15 million guaranteed: $650,000 of the $1.41 million base salary and a $500,000 signing bonus.

However, the total cap charge is $2.09 million instead of $2.25 million since Jones played nine games in 2023, so only $180,000 of the per-game bonuses are charged against the cap. Assuming he makes the team, every $20,000 bonus paid after the eighth game would count against the 2025 cap for a maximum $160,000.

Jones’ one-year deal is very similar to the one signed by wide receiver Chris Moore on March 18. Moore is 6-foot-1, 200 and was a fourth-round pick by the Ravens in 2016. He turns 31 on June 16.

Jones is 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and was a second-round pick by the Bills in 2017. He turned 29 on March 30 and has been more productive during the seven seasons he’s played with the Bills, Raiders and Jaguars. Jones has played 104 games with 67 starts, catching 287 passes for $3,028 yards (10.6 average) and 18 touchdowns.

Moore has played 106 games with 18 starts in eight seasons with the Ravens, Texans and Titans. He has 138 receptions for 1,710 yards (12.4 average) and eight touchdowns.

Moore’s contract is worth $2 million with $750,000 guaranteed: $250,000 of his $1.28 million base salary and a $500,000 signing bonus. His per-game $10,000 roster bonuses provide a maximum payout of $170,000 that all is charged against the cap because he played all 17 games last season. Moore also has a $50,000 offseason workout bonus.

His cap charge is the $2 million total value of the deal.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

The Arizona Cardinals were not expected to be good last season and, while they were scrappy and competitive in 2023, their 4-13 record proved that they were a bad team.

They hope to bounce back after two straight four-win seasons. To do that, they need players to make improvements. Some players could bounce back.

Pro Football Focus looked at who is the most likely player to bounce back for each team from a disappointing 2023.

Newly signed receiver Zay Jones is the pick.

It was difficult to find a Cardinals player who was good in prior years and struggled in 2023, largely because of the team’s youth. But Jones is probably as good a bet as any.

With Jacksonville in 2022, he posted a career-best 82 catches for 823 yards, not to mention 1.47 yards per route run. However, 2023 proved more challenging, with Jones playing just 474 snaps and accruing 62 targets.

Even though the Cardinals now boast superstar Marvin Harrison Jr., Jones could easily become the team’s WR2 and help work underneath to complement the rookie, especially as he gets acclimated early on.

Jones was very productive in 2022 and that is what the Cardinals saw in him when they signed him. He is the most accomplished receiver on the roster. Harrison is a rookie and Wilson and Dortch have never reached 600 yards in a season.

Zach Pascal has two 600-yard seasons in his career, but he had 19 combined catches over the last two seasons.

Who are other bounceback candidates?

You could say quarterback Kyler Murray because he only played in eight games and was not good until his final three games.

Likewise, you could look at linebacker Kyzir White or safety Budda Baker, whose seasons were cut short due to injuries.

Likewise, Zaven Collins, who had a productive 2022 as an inside linebacker but moved to outside linebacker last year and was only okay, is another possibility. But that isn’t so much bouncing back because he was playing a new position as it is stepping up.

Jones is a great candidate to bounce back.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.