Las Vegas Raiders 3 best offseason additions in 2022

Las Vegas Raiders top offseason pickup: DE Chandler Jones (Arizona Cardinals)

A year ago, the Las Vegas Raiders invested big money into signing defensive and Yannick Ngakoue away from the Baltimore Ravens. The standout edge rusher proved to be a good compliment to fellow pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. In 2021, the duo combined for 18 of the team’s 35 sacks, with Ngakoue finishing with 10 of those quarterback traps.

But the well-traveled former Pro Bowler wound up being part of a deal that enabled general manager Dave Ziegler to acquire three-year cornerback Rock Ya-Sin from the Indianapolis Colts’ for Ngakoue. That’s because the Raiders wound up adding productive defender Chandler Jones, giving the team quite the bookend opposite Crosby (who signed a four-year contract extension earlier this year).

Jones was a first-round draft choice of the New England Patriots in 2012. He spent four years in Foxborough and was part of the club’s Super Bowl LI championship season before being dealt to the Arizona Cardinals in 2016. And the former Syracuse University really hit his stride in the desert.

A total of 10 seasons has added up to an impressive 107.5 sacks, to go along with 33 forced fumbles. He’s also recovered 10 fumbles, earned four Pro Bowl invitations, and been named All-Pro twice. And Jones has lined up at end and outside linebacker during his impressive career.