The Dallas Cowboys suffered two big losses on offense in free agency this year when Ronald Leary left for the Denver Broncos and Doug Free announced that he was retiring from the NFL. However, the Cowboys found a very big replacement when they signed former Cleveland Browns' offensive guard Jonathan Cooper to a one-year contract.
Dallas Cowboys plans for offensive line
The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2017 NFL season with three first round picks starting on the offensive line. Tyron Smith plays left tackle, Zack Martin at right guard, and Travis Frederick at center.
La'el Collins was expected to replace Ronald Leary after he left for the Broncos in free agency but when Free retired many thought Collins could move to right tackle. Collins was predicted as a first round draft pick but a murder investigation involving an ex-girlfriend caused teams to avoid him. Once those allegations cleared up, the Cowboys signed him so they have four first round quality offensive linemen and Collins played right tackle in college. Now, with Jonathan Cooper on the team as a big powerful offensive guard, it looks like that will be the case with Cooper replacing Leary and Collins taking Free's place on the line. As a note, Cooper was also a first round draft pick in 2013, giving the Cowboys five first round quality players blocking for Dak Prescott.
Jonathan Cooper's career in the NFL
While Smith, Frederick, and Martin all proved to be worth their first round draft picks with the Dallas Cowboys as multiple-time Pro Bowl selections, Johnathan Cooper has yet to prove himself in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him as a first round pick in 2013 and then they traded him to the New England Patriots in 2016.
The Patriots then cut him and the Cleveland Browns picked him up, sending Cooper from a Super Bowl team to the worst team in the NFL. Cleveland also dropped him in December and Dallas actually picked him up for the playoffs with the hopes that they could sign him to a long-term deal. That will have to wait. This free agent contract is a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys as Jonathan Cooper will have a chance to prove what he might be worth to the team.
