Here's that blockbuster trade we've been missing. ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the New England Patriots are trading DE Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for G Jonathan Cooper and a second round 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
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
Heck of a trade. The Cardinals were repeatedly connected to pass rushers throughout the free agency process, including Tamba Hali. Tamba says he was never going to leave but there were unconfirmed rumors out there that the Cardinals would've taken a peek at him if he were going to leave KC. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are giving up a former top 10 pick in Jonathan Cooper. You don't usually see guards drafted that high.
This is a unique trade. The Patriots needed o-line help and got it in the form of Cooper AND a second round pick. The rich get richer, I suppose. To be fair, the Patriots are giving up one of the most valuable commodities - a pass rusher.
Speaking of Jones, he's the one who oddly showed up at a Massachusetts police station early one morning about a week before the Patriots hosted the Chiefs in the divisional playoffs.