SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers added some competition to their guard position last week when they signed Jonathan Cooper to a one-year deal. Cooper comes to the Niners from the Dallas Cowboys, where he started 13 games last season.
Upon adding Cooper, the 49ers expect him to compete for a starting job, though it's unclear which spot. Cooper joins a mix that includes Joshua Garnett, Laken Tomlinson and Erik Magnuson, though it's likely the Niners will continue to look to add more guards capable of providing even more competition.
Cooper, a former first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, entered the league with a reputation as one of the most athletic guard prospects to come along in years. But he hasn't lived up to the expectations in stints with Arizona, Dallas, the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. At 6-foot-2 and 308 pounds, Cooper fits the profile of the athletic guard the Niners are looking for in coach Kyle Shanahan's scheme. If he still has that athletic ability, he should have a legitimate shot to win a starting job.
Either way, the Niners aren't paying much to see what Cooper still has in the tank. His deal is for one year and $4.95 million with a $2 million signing bonus.
Here's a look at how the deal breaks down with the numbers courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:
2018
Salary cap charge: $4,860,937.50
Base salary: $2 million
Signing bonus: $2 million
Roster bonus: Up to $475,000 ($29,687.50 per game on the 46-man active roster/counts $385,937.50 against cap for 13 games he was active in 2017)
Workout bonus: $475,000
