Cardinals extend Todd Bowles

The Cardinals signed defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to a three-year contract extension that ties him to Arizona through the 2017 season, per a league source.

The deal makes Bowles one of the five highest-paid assistant coaches in the NFL and was hammered out in recent days by Cardinals president Michael Bidwill and general manager Steve Keim.

Now, when teams pursue Bowles for head-coaching opportunities, which is expected this winter, he will have the chance to be extremely selective about leaving Arizona.

Bowles has been the architect of one of the most creative and effective defenses in the league the past two years.

The Cardinals finished 2013 with the top-ranked run defense with a front seven that included linebackers Karlos Dansby and Daryl Washington, defensive tackleDarnell Dockettand outside linebacker John Abraham. By time the 2014 season started, Bowles was already working without all four because of injuries, suspensions and free agency.

Include injuries during the season to defensive end Calais Campbell and outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy,. and at times this year, Bowles was working with a front seven that had just one starter -- nose tackle Dan Williams -- from a year ago.

But the defense has still flourished, becoming the league's top-ranked run defense in Week 8.

Bowles has developed a reputation for his penchant to blitz. The Cardinals are blitzing at a 41.1 percent clip this season -- fifth-highest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Arizona has a plus-12 turnover margin in 2014, and its point margin is plus-53.

Bowles' defense comes to life in the fourth quarter, recording a plus-11 turnover margin in the final quarter this year while helping the Cardinals to a plus-57 point margin -- thanks in part to three defensive touchdowns scored in the in final 15 minutes of games this season.

Bowles' extension was earlier reported by ProFootballTalk.com.

ESPN.com Cardinals reporter Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.