The Patriots have traded defensive end/outside linebacker Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for guard Jonathan Cooper and pick #61 of the second round. Arizona had a glaring need at outside linebacker. The Cardinals have been one of the worst pass rushing team in the NFL the past two seasons. As for the Patriots, they needed to fill a glaring hole at guard this off-season and they are hoping Cooper fills that hole.

While Cooper was an important piece in this deal, the Patriots getting the second rounder in return was the key to the deal. Now they have two second round picks (60, 61) and two third round picks (91, 96) in this year’s draft. Bill Belichick has more flexibility to move around if he identifies a player he likes and wants to get him. 

I’m not trying to diminish the importance of Cooper in the deal. If healthy, the former 2013 seventh overall pick out of North Carolina has upside. Cooper can play guard or center. The Cardinals were contemplating moving him to center before this deal happened. At 6-3 300, Cooper has good size and he is an above average run blocker who plays with a mean streak on occasion. 

As far as Jones is concerned, the Patriots got as much as they could out of him. The 2012 first rounder finished with 36 sacks in 55 games but was wildly inconsistent. He is a pure pass rusher who should be a great fit in Arizona’s 3-4 defense. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher will allow to get up the field and limit his run responsibilities. He’ll still have to play the run but the Cardinals scheme will play more to his strengths. 

Looking at this deal on paper, it was a pure business transaction. I’m sure Patriots fans are wondering if Jones admitting to smoking synthetic marijuana in January may have been contributed to Belichick making this deal. It’s possible but I think this was more of a business deal. The Patriots needed to fill a void along their offensive line and they needed another early round pick. Arizona was willing to give them both so Belichick made the deal. No player other than Tom Brady is safe in New England. If Belichick thinks it’s good for the team, he’ll trade any player not named Brady. 

Belichick will now focus on re-signing Dont’a Hightower, Jaime Collins, Malcolm Butler and several other key defensive players before they hit free agency next off-season. The bottom line is,  Belichick felt that those guys were more valuable than Jones and he’s right.