Cardinals Trade for Patriots’ Chandler Jones
The NFL isn’t much for blockbuster trades, so anytime a big-name player is shipped off to another team, it’s usually big news. Such was the case for the Arizona Cardinals today, who traded offensive guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for pass rusher Chandler Jones.
Now in the final year of his rookie contract, Jones enjoyed his most productive season in 2015. Jones recorded 12.5 sacks and one interception, with the Cardinals deeming both his stats and frequent line penetration worthy of a trade.
Despite its fearsome defense, Arizona has been in need of a pure edge rusher to complement its stout front seven and opportunistic secondary. The athletic Jones, still only 26, has an opportunity to be that every-down weapon the Cards are after.
It’s rare that a trade appears to result in a win-win situation, but it looks like both franchises did their due diligence before parting with their players. While the Cardinals are losing 2013’s seventh overall pick in Cooper, the team reportedly offered former Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis a two-year deal during his team visit on Tuesday. Presently, Arizona is considered the frontrunner to sign the veteran lineman.
And while New England is losing a premier contributor along its defensive line, the Patriots front office today signed former Ram, Chris Long, to a one-year contract. An extremely early draft pick in his own right, Long enjoyed a blistering start to his career before recording only 4 sacks in the last two seasons. He will be hoping to revitalise his career under defensive mastermind Bill Belichick in Foxboro.
Finally, the addition of a second-round pick for the Patriots will serve as some small consolation for being docked a first-round selection by the NFL over the “Deflategate†scandal. Considering the success of Arizona’s season, the pick will admittedly come late in the second round (61st overall), but that won’t deter the Pats from bolstering a roster with championship aspirations in 2016.
