The San Francisco 49ers signed guard Jonathan Cooper to a one-year deal on Tuesday. That deal is worth $4.95 million with a $2 million signing bonus and $4 million in total guarantees, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Interior OL market going strong. Well-traveled former 1st-round pick Jonathan Cooper's one-year deal with the #49ers is worth $4.95 million, including a $2M signing bonus and $4M in total guarantees.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 23, 2018
"Having started 27 games in four NFL seasons, Jonathan brings great experience to the interior of our offensive line," said general manager John Lynch via a statement issued by the team upon the announcement of the signing. "We look forward to him competing for a starting job at guard, while also bringing a veteran presence to our locker room. Jonathan is a welcome addition to our team."
The Arizona Cardinals made Cooper (6-2, 308) the seventh-overall draft pick out of North Carolina in 2013. He started 13 games at left guard for the Dallas Cowboys in 2017.
Copper sustained a knee injury in Dallas' final game of the season last year that required MCL surgery in January, according to a report by ESPN. He was expected to be ready to participate in an NFL team's offseason program, which begins in mid-April.
Lynch, who was at Stanford's pro day on Thursday, told reporters Cooper would compete for one of the two starting guard spots. At at the very least, he adds solid depth to the position.
"Number one, he's got to get himself healthy," Lynch said. "He had his surgery right after the season, so there's some work to be done there."
Lynch said the 49ers would be conservative in their approach to make sure he returns healthy.
"He played very well, in our minds, for Dallas last year," he continued. "Kind of resurrected his career."
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