Former Cardinals first-round pick Jonathan Cooper released by Patriots
Oct 8, 2016, 6:39 PM
Jonathan Cooper, G, 1st round (7th overall)
Early on Cooper appeared ready to take over at left guard and hold onto that spot for years to come, but a broken ankle suffered in the third preseason game of his rookie year ended that season, and from there he battled injury and inconsistency. He was the team's starting right guard to begin 2015, but lost that job and was eventually traded to New England in the deal that brought Chandler Jones to Arizona. He was later released by the Patriots and picked up by the Cleveland Browns, before they too released him. Cooper has since signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
Career stats: 29 games (14 starts)
(14 starts)
Former No. 7 overall pick of the Arizona Cardinals Jonathan Cooper was waived by the New England Patriots Saturday.
Along with a second-round pick, Cooper was the return for the Patriots when they dealt Chandler Jones to the Cardinals.
Cooper’s career in Arizona could never get going. Before the start of his rookie season, Cooper broke his left fibula in the third preseason game of the season. In the next two seasons, Cooper started just 11 games, and did not have a good 2015, ranked No. 50 at guard by Pro Football Focus.
The lone returns for New England from the deal now are fourth-round pick wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and third-round selection guard Joe Thuney, who were acquired for the second-round pick. Mitchell has four catches for 75 yards in four games this season.
Jones, meanwhile, has started out the season with four sacks and 15 tackles, which are both on pace for career highs.
Dating back to Larry Fitzgerald in 2004, only six of the Cardinals’ last 13 first-round selections are still with the team. Cooper became the seventh to no longer be with the team and the 2013 selection is now the most recent since Dan Williams (2010). 2012 first-round selection Michael Floyd is a free agent after this season.
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