Chris Long Signs With New England Patriots, Chandler Jones Trade Now Makes Sense

Chris Long has agreed to a one-year contract with the New England Patriots, which makes complete sense after the team shipped Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals earlier on Tuesday. Obviously Long will step in to Jones’ role as a defensive end, and the Patriots were able to add guard Jonathan Cooper and the 61st pick in this year’s draft in the earlier trade.

Long is getting a one-year, prove-it deal with New England and that’s a great situation for the Patriots. The 30-year-old has a chance to show he still has something left in the tank after playing in only 18 games over the past two seasons and managing just 4.0 sacks.

Before injuring his ankle during the 2014 season, Long had played in every game during the first six years of his career. After the St. Louis Los Angeles Rams made him the second pick in the 2008 NFL Draft he became a leader for the franchise on defense. He posted 54.5 sacks in eight seasons in St. Louis while playing 114 games.

Now he arrives as a veteran whose stock is down, a commodity the Patriots have exploited for years. They have consistently helped guys like Long rehab their careers and get back on track. We’ll see if he is the next New England success story.