Two teams that went to NFL conference championship games last year are making a deal to fill some holes. The Arizona Cardinals, looking to add another pass rusher to their dynamic defense, and the New England Patriots, looking to fill some holes on their offensive line, have made a swap.
The Pats will be sending away recently troubled star pass rusher Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for young guard Jonathan Cooper and a second round pick.
Following from Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Cards-Pats blockbuster from @diannaESPN and me: Cards trade G Jonathan Cooper + 2nd-rd pick to NE for DE Chandler Jones, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2016
The deal goes beyond just a trade that works for both sides. For the Patriots, this could be a homerun. They are moving Jones before his contract expires next season, which would force them to pay him big bucks especially based off what a guy like Olivier Vernon got this summer. The Patriots offensive line coach has been interested in Cooper for a long time which is another interesting tidbit, coming courtesy of Mike Reiss of ESPN.
At the same time, Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio once mentioned Cooper as having one of the highest grades on the team’s draft board in 2013, so it’s not a stretch to say that the club views him as a potential impact player and is banking on a change of scenery bringing out the best in him. In 2013, it was offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia’s final year as offensive line coach and his input on Cooper was naturally significant that year. This year, Scarnecchia has returned after a two-year retirement.
Also, due to the deflategate scandal, the Patriots have lost a first round pick so now acquiring a second round pick essentially gives the Pats a replacement pick and everyone knows how well the Pats do in the draft.
