Cardinals sign Todd Bowles to 3-year contract extension, according to report

Adam Schefter is reporting the Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. According to Schefter, the deal will make Bowles one of the five highest-paid assistant coaches in the NFL, and keep him under contract through 2017.

Schefter reported team president Michael Bidwill and general manager Steve Keim negotiated the deal in "recent days" and have officially cleared one important deal out of the way. The Cardinals defense lost several key contributors to free agency, injury and suspension, and yet they are back among the league's best, ranked No. 5 overall by Football Outsiders. The talent has risen, but Bowles deserves a lot of credit for this dynamic unit.

The Cardinals could not block Bowles from leaving for a head coaching job during the course of this contract, but as one of the highest paid assistants in the league, he might be more inclined to stick around until the perfect opportunity arrives.