One of the big decisions facing the Dallas Cowboys in the 2018 offseason is at left guard. Veteran Jonathan Cooper started 13 games last year and is now a free agent. Should Dallas bring Cooper back, or should they look elsewhere for next season's starter?
With a lot of money already being spent on the rest of the starting offensive line, the Cowboys need a bargain at left guard. They didn't re-sign Ronald Leary in 2017 for that very reason, hoping Cooper or Chaz Green would be able to handle the job for a fraction of what Leary got from the Denver Broncos.
Cooper took over for Green in Week 4 and held the job the rest of the season. The Cowboys rushing attack remained one of the league's best, even performing well later in the year when Ezekiel Elliott was suspended. It looked like Jonathan could become part of future plans.
However, in Week 17, Cooper went out of the game with a knee injury. It thankfully wasn't serious and he is expected to be ready for 2018. However, it was a reminder of the injury-plagued past that has caused the former first-round pick so much trouble.
Taken seventh overall in 2013 by the Arizona Cardinals, Jonathan Cooper was one of the true blue-chip guard prospects in recent draft history. He seemed like a can't-miss pick, and interior linemen don't often go that high in the draft. The Cowboys have even said they coveted Cooper in that class.
But constant battles with injuries caused Cooper to be traded, released, and discarded by the Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Cleveland Browns over his first four seasons. While 2017 was looking like a turning point for him, Jonathan's injury in the season finale was a sobering reminder of why he's become a bargain-bin player.
Still, at just 28-years-old, Cooper has good years left and will now have another offseason for continuity and chemistry development with the Cowboys.
Dallas should have to pay more than a few million to keep Cooper on the roster.
If Dallas is leery (no pun intended) of Cooper, they will have options. La'el Collins could move back to the guard position, allowing the Cowboys to go find either the best guard or tackle who would fit with their existing group.
Given so many other considerations this offseason, Dallas will likely try to simplify things by giving Jonathan Cooper another chance. His history is a red flag, but sometimes you have to take those gambles and save salary cap space to handle other needs.
