Veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips has signed a big-money deal to anchor the Cardinals defensive front for the next 3 seasons. At $30 million over the next three seasons, Phillips will be looking to cement the progress he has made over the last year in Buffalo.
Originally selected with the 52nd overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft by Miami, Phillips was a massive under-achiever for the Dolphins. With just 5.5 sacks in his 3+ years, he managed only 26 starts before being cut by the Dolphins in October 2018. The Bills picked him up off waivers the next day and he has slowly been rebuilding his reputation.
Is Jordan Phillips just a tad overpaid?
At 6’6″ and 341 pounds, Jordan Phillips is the ideal size for a DI, and if he gets his motor right he can be a very disruptive force. With 29 total pressures in 2019 representing a career high, Phillips seems to be establishing himself more in the league.
While this isn’t a bad signing, the Cardinals do seem to have overpaid somewhat for Phillips. PFF graded him as the 108th out of 118 interior defensive linemen in 2019. Paying him as the 14th highest defensive tackle by average per year is a huge stretch unless Phillips finally grows into the position.
With 9.5 sacks last season, a career-high by some way, his previous high was 2 in 2017 and 2015, Jordan Phillips began to show that he could consistently be disruptive. If he can continue that growth in 2020 and throughout his contract then this deal could prove to be good value. But at this point, it seems a little rich.
All that said, Phillips, will add a good big body presence to the interior of the defensive front and help to solidify a unit that gave up the 12th highest yards per carry in 2019 at 4.4 and the 9th most yards.
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