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The New England Patriots made a change at defensive end on Tuesday. First, the Patriots dealt Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for a second-round pick in the 2016 draft and former first-round pick Jonathan Cooper, an offensive guard.
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Then, New England agreed to a one-year deal with free agent Chris Long to fill the vacancy left by Jones.
Long changed his Twitter account to say he is a New England Patriot, and he tweeted, "This is an opportunity and I am so thankful!!! Whatever it takes!!! See you soon Boston. GO PATS"
The Patriots and Cardinals confirmed the Jones-Cooper trade Tuesday, and it will become official after both players pass a physical.
New England will receive the 61st overall selection in the April draft.
Jones was a first-round pick in 2012 and led the Patriots with 12.5 sacks last season. In the off week between the final regular-season game and the first playoff game for the Patriots in January, Jones was hospitalized when he was found kneeling in front of a police station asking for help. Jones admitted he made a mistake but would not confirm reports he used synthetic marijuana, which is legal in Massachusetts.
Long, who turns 31 this month, spent the previous eight seasons with the St. Louis Rams, who drafted him No. 2 overall in 2008. He was limited to 18 total games the past two seasons because of injuries.
The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, Chris Long played in 114 games and recorded 54.5 sacks in St. Louis.
Long met with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins before agreeing to terms with the Patriots.
Cooper was a bust in Arizona.
A physical guard at North Carolina, he was the seventh overall pick in 2013 but has started only 11 games in three seasons. He spent his rookie year on injured reserve with a broken leg and perpetually seemed to be in the doghouse of coach Bruce Arians.
Just 26, Cooper could still fill a role for the Patriots, who ran into significant depth issues up front in recent seasons.
The Patriots recoup a draft pick in the deal to compensate for losing their first-round pick in 2016. It was stripped by the NFL as punishment for the Deflategate scandal.
