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San Francisco 49ers: 5 most surprising roster cuts of 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 27: Guard Jonathan Cooper #61 of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines during the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carindals defeated the 49ers 47-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 27: Guard Jonathan Cooper #61 of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines during the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carindals defeated the 49ers 47-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Offensive Guard Jonathan Cooper

If you were going by the money, veteran offensive guard Jonathan Cooper would have been an easy choice to make San Francisco’s 53-man roster.

The 49ers signed Cooper to a one-year, $4.95 million contract this offseason with $2.475 guaranteed. That’s starter money at guard, and Cooper had the luxury of being a hand-picked choice over the incumbent, Joshua Garnett, who was under the microscope with a knee injury entering training camp.

But Cooper was also dealing with a knee injury, having received MCL surgery earlier in the offseason.

That pushed his ability to get on the field back a bit. And when he did, he was playing third string behind Garnett and another free-agent pickup, Mike Person. Throughout the preseason, Cooper didn’t exactly showcase the run- and pass-blocking abilities the Niners were hoping for.

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So it shouldn’t be a shock to see Cooper cut, especially knowing the 49ers have shown they won’t commit to a player based off money alone.