Source: Cardinals agree to 3-year deal with Bilal Nichols, others

The Arizona Cardinals bolstered their defense Monday, agreeing to deals with defensive tackles Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting.

Nichols agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal that includes $14.4 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.

Murphy-Bunting's deal is for three years with $17.5 million guaranteed while Jones agreed to a three-year deal for $19.75 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.

Nichols started all 34 games in which he played for the Las Vegas Raiders over the past two seasons. He is coming off a two-year, $11 million contract he signed in 2022.

Nichols, 27, will give the Cardinals a much-needed boost up front.

Arizona is coming off a season in which it had just 33 sacks, the Cardinals' fewest in the past 10 years. Adding a pass-rusher and a disrupter up front was a priority for the Cardinals entering free agency.

He had a combined 92 tackles (41 solo) and three sacks in two seasons with the Raiders. Last season, Nichols combined with Maxx Crosby to sack New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones in the end zone for a game-clinching safety in Week 6.

On Christmas, Nichols scooped up a muffed snap to Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco and returned the fumble 8 yards for his first career touchdown to give the Raiders a 9-7 second-quarter lead en route to a 20-14 victory, the Chiefs' final loss of the season.

The 6-foot-3, 313-pound Nichols' share of defensive snaps fell to 54% last season, after playing 71% of the Raiders' defensive snaps the previous season. He had just a 3.4% pass-rush win rate, per ESPN Stats & Information, and a 31.5% run stop win rate last season.

A fifth-round draft pick of the Bears in 2018, Nichols turns 28 in September. He had a combined 11 sacks in four seasons with the Bears. In 94 career games, with 83 starts, Nichols has 238 tackles, 118 solo, 14 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, 44 QB hits, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles.

Jones was one of the first signings by general manager Ryan Poles in 2022 after the Bears' marquee free agent target -- defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi -- failed a physical after agreeing to terms with Chicago.

In two seasons with the Bears, Jones, who turns 28 on Aug. 28, totaled 7.5 sacks, 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 24 quarterback hits. He had a career-best 17 QB hits in 2023 as the Bears defense finished as one of the best in the league.

Jones, who was Chicago's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last season, started all 34 games in which he played for Chicago at three-technique despite the Bears selecting defensive tackles Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zaach Pickens in the second and third rounds, respectively, of the 2023 draft.

Jones was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 and developed into a three-year starter for the team. In 2021, he had three sacks, two fumble recoveries and 19 tackles in 11 games.

Jones was one of the first signings by general manager Ryan Poles in 2022 after the Bears' marquee free agent target -- defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi -- failed a physical after agreeing to terms with Chicago.

In two seasons with the Bears, Jones, who turns 28 on Aug. 28, totaled 7.5 sacks, 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 24 quarterback hits. He had a career-best 17 QB hits in 2023 as the Bears defense finished as one of the best in the league.

Jones, who was Chicago's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last season, started all 34 games in which he played for Chicago at three-technique despite the Bears selecting defensive tackles Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zaach Pickens in the second and third rounds, respectively, of the 2023 draft.

Jones was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 and developed into a three-year starter for the team. In 2021, he had three sacks, two fumble recoveries and 19 tackles in 11 games.

Murphy-Bunting came to the Titans on a one-year, $3.5 million contract last season and his eight passes defended and two interceptions in 14 starts led the Titans in both categories. A thumb injury kept him out of three games last season.

Murphy-Bunting, 26, lined up primarily as an outside cornerback last season but has played the nickel in the past.

The fifth-year veteran showed a willingness to come up and make plays in run support from the secondary last season. He finished with 57 tackles including three for a loss.

Murphy-Bunting totaled nine interceptions, including three in the postseason, and 21 passes defended in four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He picked off a pass in each of his first three career playoff appearances, joining Hall of Famers Aeneas Williams and Ed Reed, along with Jason Sehorn as the only four players in the Super Bowl era with an interception in each of their first three career postseason games.

The Buccaneers selected Murphy-Bunting in the second round out of Central Michigan in 2019. He was named first-team All-Mid-American Conference and Central Michigan's Defensive Player of the Year after his final collegiate season.

ESPN's Paul Gutierrez, Josh Weinfuss,Turron Davenport and Courtney Cronincontributed to this report.