The New England Patriots have reportedly agreed to trade defensive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for offensive guard Jonathan Cooper.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Dianna Marie Russini are reporting that the Patriots will also receive a second-round draft pick.
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
Jones, 26, had a tremendous season in 2016, recording a career-high 12.5 sacks in his fourth NFL season. Cooper, the No. 7 overall pick of the Cardinals in 2013, has appeared in 24 games over the past two seasons and started in just 11.
Jones was set to become a free agent after the 2016 season, and the Patriots likely had no intention of paying him something similar to the $85 million Olivier Vernon got form the New York Giants last week. This is Bill Belichick’s way of getting value in return for Jones instead of letting him walk in a year.
Also, you might remember that Jones had an embarrassing off-field incident last year in which he was rumored to be using drugs. We wouldn’t be surprised if that played a role in New England’s decision to trade him.
