The Arizona Cardinals have found their pass rusher.
On Tuesday, the Cardinals have agreed to trade offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper and a 2016 second-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for defensive end Chandler Jones.
Jones, a 2012 first-round draft pick and 2015 Pro Bowl selection, recorded 12.5 sacks last season, the fifth-highest total in the NFL. He had 44 combined tackles and four forced fumbles.
#Birdgang what up??
— Chandler Jones (@Chan95Jones) March 15, 2016
Making moves I see! #ValueMove
— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@RealPeterson21) March 15, 2016
Spent sometime w/ @Chan95Jones in NE.. Good guy.. Gonna bring energy to the team.. Glad to have him
— Adrian Wilson (@adrian_wilson24) March 15, 2016
Jones is entering the final year of his four-year contract. He is set to make just under $8 million this season.
Cooper was the Cardinals' first-round pick in 2013 but has yet to become an elite offensive lineman, thanks in part to injuries that have hampered his development.
The Cardinals struggled in their ability to rush opposing quarterbacks last season. They had just 36 sacks as a team last year, good for just 20th in the NFL.
Veteran linebacker Dwight Freeney, whom the Cardinals signed five games into the season, led the team with eight sacks in 2015. Defensive end Calais Campbell had five.
The Cardinals have had a player with 10 or more sacks just once over the past 11 seasons. Chandler Jones has 10+ in 2 of the past 3 years.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 15, 2016
