The NFL off-season is never silent for very long and that was proven again when the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots completed a blockbuster trade.
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
This is a huge turn of events for both teams. The Patriots, in need of interior offensive line help as well as high draft choices after losing their 1st rounder in the Deflategate scandal, sent their best pass rusher in the Arizona Cardinals who are starved for help at outside linebacker after they failed to harass Cam Newton at all in the NFC championship game. From an objective standpoint, it made sense for both sides.
Arizona had been seeking a pass rusher - gets a stud in Chandler Jones. NE coveted Jonathan Cooper and picks. Get them.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2016
The question becomes which team gave up too much. Cooper had struggled to find a niche on the offensive line under Bruce Arians. It had gotten to a point where the team was looking to shift him to center. So giving him up is one thing, but the 2nd round pick might sound like too high a price. On the flip side, the Patriots are taking a chance that they can turn Cooper around at the expense of giving up their most productive pass rusher.
LIVE on #Periscope: Major trade in the NFL https://t.co/4CPDHBI6Ka
— NFL Mocks (@NFLMocks) March 15, 2016
From the positive viewpoints of both it goes like this. Arizona is built to win now and the biggest missing piece for their defense is a pass rusher. They were winning without Cooper on the line and 2nd round picks can be more easily replaced than 1st rounder. New England has a long history of replacing productive players on defense and they chose a good year to do it with Jones as the 2016 NFL draft class is reportedly loaded along the defensive line.
Time will tell which team got the better end of this deal. One thing is certain though. Fans and experts alike will now be praying for a Cardinals-Patriots Super Bowl 51 showdown next February.