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North Carolina Tar Heels: Jon Cooper to the Patriots

By John Woodcock

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) celebrates with guard Jonathan Cooper (61) after scoring a 17 yard touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) celebrates with guard Jonathan Cooper (61) after scoring a 17 yard touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former North Carolina Tar Heels lineman Jonathan Cooper was traded to the New England Patriots.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels guard/center Jonathan Cooper is on the move in a rare NFL trade. Cooper and a second round draft pick were sent from the Arizona Cardinals to the New England Patriots in exchange for defensive end Chandler Jones.

This is another strike by the New England Patriots. The Patriots rarely overpay a player if they believe that he is not worth the price he wants. Jones was about to enter the last year of his rookie contract and he was going to be due a huge raise in next year’s off season. Despite Jones being in his prime, the Patriots moved him to get some value now as they could not do that when he would be a pending free agent this season.

The second name to think about in this trade is Tom Brady. The Patriots got destroyed in the AFC Championship game by the Broncos defense and part of the problem was a lack of depth on the offensive line. Cooper gives them a reasonably priced lineman with some flexibility as to the position that he can play. That offers Brady a better chance at pass protection at the tail end of his career.

Cooper had been through injury troubles with the Cardinals in his short career there. These injuries had led to his replacement in the starting lineup by Ted Larsen. So Cooper was not a big loss to the Cardinals based on last season. That will give him all the more motivation to succeed with the Patriots.

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While Cooper is the only name associated with the trade, a good portion of the value will be the second round pick. Deflategate took away the Patriots’ 1st rounder this year. While the Cardinals’ second rounder will not be a high pick, it does allow the Patriots another selection in the early part of a fairly deep draft.

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Hopefully things will work out for Cooper in New England. If they don’t then don’t be surprised if the Patriots move on sooner rather than later.

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