TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals bolstered their shaky offensive line by selecting North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper with the seventh overall pick of the NFL draft.
The Cardinals had one of the NFL’s worst offenses during a 5-11 season in 2012, in large part because of an offensive line that struggled in pass protection and the running game.
An athletic 6-foot-2, 311 pounds, Cooper should give the Cardinals a lift in both areas after being the fourth offensive lineman to be taken in the first seven picks of this year’s draft.
Cooper was an Outland Trophy finalist, a consensus All-American and set a school record with 48 starts for the Tar Heels.
