What's the story on Jonathan Cooper?

[T-RO]

Here is a guy who was a 1st round pick but is on his fourth team just the past 18 months. I know a little of the story but would like to know more.

Cooper was considered one of the top o-lineman in the 2013 draft. He was not only a first rounder...he was the seventh guy selected overall. There were elite expectations.

Fast forward to 2016/17 and Cooper has been with FOUR different teams in the span of 16 months.

How does that happen? Injuries for the most part...and it started early with the Cards.

Cooper was signed to a four-year, $14.55 million contract on July 28, 2013.[11] On August 24, in the third preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, Cooper broke his left fibula. On August 30, the Cardinals placed him on the injured reserve list. It has been speculated that he was never the same player following this injury.

In 2014, he was named the starter at left guard even though he was slow to recover from his previous injury and battled through a turf toe and knee injury in training camp. The injuries forced the Cardinals to name Ted Larsen as the starter at left guard to start the season. In week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, an ankle injury to left guard Paul Fanaikaopened the door for Cooper to have his first career start. He started 2 games until injuring his left wrist against the Seattle Seahawks in week 15.

In 2015, he was moved to the right guard starting position after the team signed All-Pro Mike Iupati, but he suffered a knee injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10 and would lose again his job to Larsen. The Cardinals were planning to move Cooper to center during the 2016 offseason.[13]
​

That move never happens. He is traded to the Pats on March 15, 2016. What happens there?

Cooper was working as a starter at right guard into the third day of training camp, when he suffered a right foot injury that sidelined him...Shortly later Patriots release him.​

October 10, 2016, Cooper was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He didn't have any injuries I've heard about w/Browns but only played part-time and the Browns weren't convinced--for whatever reason--he was worth holding onto.

Waived on December 27 and signed 8 days later by the 'Boys.

So many questions!
Is this guy closer to a 1st round pick or to a guy not good enough for the Browns? He's still only 27. Can we trust him to stay healthy? Is this a diamond in the rough...or fool's gold?

 

[RoboQB]

Fool's gold

 

[Brooksey]

He has to stay healthy & get stronger

Cooper should be backing up Ron Leary this year. Stupid move to let Leary walk and then say they are moving Lae'l Collins to RT, IMO

 

[Hardline]

He has to stay healthy & get stronger

Cooper should be backing up Ron Leary this year. Stupid move to let Leary walk and then say they are moving Lae'l Collins to RT, IMO

I hold the same opinion.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Sounds much like Green but at the G position, often injured with little reliability notwithstanding the first round pedigree.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, I will say that I was a huge fan of Cooper's coming out of UNC. He had rare athletic ability for the position and I honestly thought he was going to be a 10 year Pro Bowl type player. I hope he turns out for us but it's awful tough to get it back, for whatever reason, when it leaves. I wish him all the luck in the world!

 

[LittleD]

I believe the FO wants to give Cooper a solid chance to save his career and move into a starting position at LG. Like Green, I
don't think you can trust that he will last a whole season of full time football in the NFL based on his history. I suspect that is
one reason Bell was brought in because he can play guard & tackle. Bell is a big man with less skill & potential than Cooper but,
seems to be able to play well and stay on the field.

 

[Galian Beast]

Well, I will say that I was a huge fan of Cooper's coming out of UNC. He had rare athletic ability for the position and I honestly thought he was going to be a 10 year Pro Bowl type player. I hope he turns out for us but it's awful tough to get it back, for whatever reason, when it leaves. I wish him all the luck in the world!

I don't really know how far he is from "getting it back", I think injuries have slowed his growth and development. He really just hasn't played much and probably hasn't practiced within a system very much.

It'll be interesting to see him first stay healthy if he can, and then see if he can grow on this line.

 

[pupulehaole]

Hopefully Green can stay healthy because when Cooper goes down Lae'l will need to slide back inside....

 

[Silver N Blue]

Bust

 

[Stash]

Here is a guy who was a 1st round pick but is on his fourth team just the past 18 months. I know a little of the story but would like to know more.

Cooper was considered one of the top o-lineman in the 2013 draft. He was not only a first rounder...he was the seventh guy selected overall. There were elite expectations.

Fast forward to 2016/17 and Cooper has been with FOUR different teams in the span of 16 months.

How does that happen? Injuries for the most part...and it started early with the Cards.

Cooper was signed to a four-year, $14.55 million contract on July 28, 2013.[11] On August 24, in the third preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, Cooper broke his left fibula. On August 30, the Cardinals placed him on the injured reserve list. It has been speculated that he was never the same player following this injury.

In 2014, he was named the starter at left guard even though he was slow to recover from his previous injury and battled through a turf toe and knee injury in training camp. The injuries forced the Cardinals to name Ted Larsen as the starter at left guard to start the season. In week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, an ankle injury to left guard Paul Fanaikaopened the door for Cooper to have his first career start. He started 2 games until injuring his left wrist against the Seattle Seahawks in week 15.

In 2015, he was moved to the right guard starting position after the team signed All-Pro Mike Iupati, but he suffered a knee injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10 and would lose again his job to Larsen. The Cardinals were planning to move Cooper to center during the 2016 offseason.[13]
​

That move never happens. He is traded to the Pats on March 15, 2016. What happens there?

Cooper was working as a starter at right guard into the third day of training camp, when he suffered a right foot injury that sidelined him...Shortly later Patriots release him.​

October 10, 2016, Cooper was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He didn't have any injuries I've heard about w/Browns but only played part-time and the Browns weren't convinced--for whatever reason--he was worth holding onto.

Waived on December 27 and signed 8 days later by the 'Boys.

So many questions!
Is this guy closer to a 1st round pick or to a guy not good enough for the Browns? He's still only 27. Can we trust him to stay healthy? Is this a diamond in the rough...or fool's gold?

Honestly, the only team that I truly factor into the equation is the Cards. They made the big investment in him and gave him the most time. Neither the Pats nor Browns did.

The Patriots have had a huge amount of turnover on their offensive line, and it continues. They're the "anti-Cowboys" in that area. Lucky for them, they have a great O-line coach in Scarnecchia who makes it work anyway. Cooper had earned a starting job, but at the first sign of injury, they pulled the plug on him. They seemed to have a no tolerance policy.

And the other team was the Browns. Name the last thing they got right? The fact is that he played well overall in Cleveland. Nobody knows why the Browns cut him. And then Cleveland went and spent HUGE MONEY on both guard positions.

Cooper just needs to stay healthy, but unlike Chaz Green, I don't think his injuries have been quite as serious.

I think that, for different reasons, he's like Damontre Moore. A player on arguably his last chance to turn his career around, in the best situation to do so. If it doesn't work here, it won't work anywhere.

 

[Plankton]

Bama=Bust

Cooper went to North Carolina

 

[CashMan]

He has to stay healthy & get stronger

Cooper should be backing up Ron Leary this year. Stupid move to let Leary walk and then say they are moving Lae'l Collins to RT, IMO

Do you not understand the liability with Leary? He has a degenerative knee issue, and commanded a ton of money. You can not pay EVERYONE on the O-Line.

 

[dogunwo]

Do you not understand the liability with Leary? He has a degenerative knee issue, and commanded a ton of money. You can not pay EVERYONE on the O-Line.

Right. I don't think the Broncos ate posting anyone on their line that kind of money, so have room for the investment in their oline. Leary is probably worth a little more than he got paid.

 

[haleyrules]

Really hope he can stay healthy and help the OL. Injury proned trench players sound more like fools gold.

 

[CyberB0b]

He's the Morris Claiborne of linemen.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Yea, it's really not a given that he starts at LG over Byron Bell

 

[Nova]

He has to stay healthy & get stronger

Cooper should be backing up Ron Leary this year. Stupid move to let Leary walk and then say they are moving Lae'l Collins to RT, IMO

Leary ultimately went for 4 yr, 36 million, 24 gtd to Denver with concerning chronic knee issues.

And we still have to pay Martin after already paying Tyron and Frederick a boat load.

While having Leary here for next year would be great, I just don't think you can tie up so much in your OL.

 

[Longboysfan]

Leary ultimately went for 4 yr, 36 million, 24 gtd to Denver with concerning chronic knee issues.

And we still have to pay Martin after already paying Tyron and Frederick a boat load.

While having Leary here for next year would be great, I just don't think you can tie up so much in your OL.

You should be banned for being the voice of reason.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Leary ultimately went for 4 yr, 36 million, 24 gtd to Denver with concerning chronic knee issues.

And we still have to pay Martin after already paying Tyron and Frederick a boat load.

While having Leary here for next year would be great, I just don't think you can tie up so much in your OL.

I'm not sure it was the money alone that gave the Cowboys pause, I expect they'll pay Collins if he shows out. Leary has a degenerative knee condition that folks seem to ignore. He will not improve and probably won't maintain his 2016 level much longer. It's impressive he made it this long.