Patriots Decline Fifth-Year Option On Guard Jonathan Cooper

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Jonathan Cooper, the guard acquired in the Chandler Jones trade, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted Monday night. Cooper is now set to become a free agent after the 2016 season.

Cooper, the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, would have earned $11.9 million (guaranteed against injury) had the team picked up the option. Monday was the league deadline to do so, making this move a virtual guarantee - unless Cooper inexplicably morphed into John Hannah at Patriots offseason workouts.

Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher is the only one of five offensive linemen drafted in the top-10 in 2013 to have his fifth-year option picked up (h/t to Pro Football Talk). As should have been expected, Cooper's future with the Patriots depends entirely on his upcoming contract year in 2016.

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