Perhaps it wasn’t what many Arizona Cardinals fans had hoped for, but the acquisition of Baron Browning (6-3, 240) from the Denver Broncos Tuesday for a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft adds quality and depth to the edge-rusher room with a guy that fits the mold of what general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon have been looking for as they began rebuilding the roster 21 months ago.
“I don’t know him personally, but I did a lot of work on him when he came out (in the draft),” Gannon said Monday. “I really liked the character and the seriousness of the guy. He’s a really good, well-rounded player.”
Gannon was with the Eagles when Browning was selected in the third round of the 2021 draft. He played on the inside during his rookie year and was then switched to the edge in 2022 where he had 5.0 sacks that season and 4.5 last year.
One thing holding him back has been injuries. He missed seven games in 2023, which was head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s first season in Denver. However, in the last six games, he never played fewer than 65 percent of the snaps.
After playing 34 games with 26 starts his first three seasons, this year began with two starts, but Browning suffered a foot injury in Week 2 against the Steelers when he was on the field for only 12 snaps after playing 46 (69 percent) the week before. After missing four games while on injured reserve, he was activated, but Nik Bonitto had taken his role as a starter.
In the last three games, he has played 31 snaps (44 percent), 33 (54 percent) and 24 (42 percent) Sunday against the Ravens. He has no sacks in the five games he’s played this season.
The draft-pick price is a reasonable one for the Cardinals, who will owe Browning $1.558 million in salary for the final nine weeks of the season. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March 2025.
Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., a freshman at the time, was Browning’s teammate in the 2020 COVID-19 season at Ohio State.
“He’s an awesome teammate,” Johnson said Monday, moments after word spread about the deal. “As a player, he’s an all-around athlete, so to have him as an addition to the locker room is awesome with his ability to bend, his ability to get off the rock. I’ve seen his tape the past two years, just to keep up with the Buckeyes around the league.
“He’s explosive off the ball and I think that’s why he’s able to threaten the edge often. So I think he adds that to the locker room.”
As for any possible scheme familiarity that would make changing teams in the middle of a season somewhat quicker, Gannon said, “I’m sure the language will be a lot different for him, but set an edge, rush, little bit of coverage. It’s not crazy for us, but it’ll take some him some time.”
There will be some extra time available with the team’s bye after next Sunday’s game against the Jets, so Gannon noted, “Yeah, (outside linebackers coach) Rob (Rodriguez) will be working overtime here the next month. Sorry, Holly (his wife).”
With the different looks in the Cardinals defense, Browning’s versatility is welcomed, a word Gannon used several times when asked the benefit of adding him to the edge group.
“I think just some pieces for us, versatility,” Gannon said. “You see what Mack (Wilson Sr.) has done since he’s been here; has really made us a little more versatile. You could talk to offenses, but I would assume it’s harder for those guys to prepare because you don’t know what structures you’re going to be in. He fits that kind of mold. We like versatile people and he’s had some good production and again, the character checked out, so that’s a huge thing for us.
“I like the versatility, and he plays with a high motor. He’s got some pop and some twitch to him and some violence, so a good addition by Monti. We’ll get him in here and try to get him going.”
To make room for Browning on the roster, the Cardinals waived safety Darren Hall, who will likely be signed to the practice squad if he clears waivers Tuesday.
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