TEMPE, Ariz. -- A day after trading their starting right guard, the Arizona Cardinals found his replacement.
Arizona and guard Evan Mathis agreed to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday. It's worth up to $6,000,069, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan.
Mathis will replace Jonathan Cooper, who was traded to the New England Patriots on Tuesday, on an offensive line that's being upgraded seemingly by the day. He joins veterans Jared Veldheer at left tackle and Mike Iupati at left guard. Center and right tackle have still not been finalized for the Cardinals.
Mathis, 34, was signed by the Broncos this past summer after they had decided they had a little too much youth in the offensive line. At the time they had two rookies -- left tackle Ty Sambrailo and left guard Max Garcia -- in the lineup to go with a first-time starter in center Matt Paradis. The Broncos signed Mathis as training camp drew to a close -- he signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal on Aug. 25 -- just over two months after the veteran had been released by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mathis, who had been selected to two Pro Bowls in his time in Philadelphia (2013 and '14) had been seeking to renegotiate his contract with the Eagles and then-head coach Chip Kelly refused.
Mathis skipped voluntary OTAs and workouts in May and June. He said he was planning to report for the mandatory camp, but Kelly released him before it began.
Mathis started 12 games in the regular season for the Broncos, but he battled an ankle injury down the stretch that affected his ability to practice at times. The injury also hindered him in pass protection as well. But Mathis did start all three of the Broncos' postseason games, including Super Bowl 50.
The move is the latest departure from the Broncos as Mathis joins defensive end Malik Jackson, linebacker Danny Trevathan and quarterback Brock Osweiler, all of whom have left as free agents.
ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.