Cardinals make trade for edge rusher, but not a well-known one

The Cardinals have been seeking help in the trade market for their edge rush. They made a deal on Monday.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. Arizona time (4 p.m. ET). The Arizona Cardinals, who have been connected to a few edge rushers to aid with their pass rush, have made a move. However, it isn’t one of the more well-known players.

According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the Cardinals are sending a sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for outside linebacker Baron Browning.

Browning is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker the Broncos drafted in the third round in 2021 out of Ohio State.

He has 9.5 career sacks with a career-high of five in 2022.

This season, he has only played 146 defensive snaps in five games, logging seven combined tackles and a tackle for loss.

Browning will be a free agent after the season.

He joins an outside linebacker room that includes Zaven Collins, Jesse Luketa, Julian Okwara, Victor Dimukeje and rookie Xavier Thomas.

BJ Ojulari and Dennis Gardeck are both on injured reserve with torn ACLs.

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Broncos sign OLB Jonathon Cooper to 4-year contract extension

The Broncos have secured Jonathon Cooper’s services with a four-year contract extension.

The Denver Broncos signed outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper to a four-year contract extension over the weekend, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The four-year deal is worth $60 million and includes $33 million in guarantees, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. He’ll earn an average of $15 million per season.

The news broke shortly after the Broncos agreed to trade fellow pass rusher Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday.

Browning and Cooper were teammates at Ohio State and they were both picked by Denver in the 2021 NFL draft — Browning in the third round and Cooper in the seventh round.

Browning struggled with injuries during his time with the Broncos and totaled 9.5 sacks in 43 career games, with no sacks this season. Cooper exceeded expectations and recorded 18.5 sacks in 56 games, including 5.5 sacks through nine starts this season.

With both players scheduled to become free agents in 2025, it’s no surprise that Denver opted to keep Cooper. He’s been healthier and more productive than his counterpart since they entered the league four years ago.

Browning will get a fresh start in Arizona and the Broncos will move forward with Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman. Drew Sanders could also return from the physically unable to perform list later this season.

Denver still has plenty of depth at the position, and the team’s top pass rusher is now locked up through the 2028 season.

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Broncos agree to trade OLB Baron Browning to Cardinals

The Broncos are trading pass rusher Baron Browning to the Cardinals.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to trade edge defender Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Denver will receive a sixth-round draft pick from Arizona.

Browning (6-3, 240 pounds) was originally picked by the Broncos in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Ohio State. Browning initially played as an inside linebacker before moving to outside linebacker in his second season.

He has started 28 games for Denver over the last three and a half seasons, totaling 9.5 sacks. Browning recorded 5.0 sacks in 14 games in 2022 and 4.5 sacks in 10 games in 2023.

The 25-year-old pass rusher is a talented player, but he has struggled to stay on the field due to various injuries. He missed three games in each of his first two seasons, seven games last year and four games on injured reserve this fall.

The Broncos have plenty of depth at pass rusher with Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman. Browning is also scheduled to become a free agent in 2025. Those factors combined with Browning’s injury history made him an expendable player for Denver.

Browning will now get a fresh start with the Cardinals and the Broncos will move forward with Cooper and Bonitto continuing to serve as their top two edge defenders.

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8 players Broncos could trade away before NFL trade deadline

Should the Broncos consider trading any of these players before the NFL’s deadline?

The NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) is less than a week away and with multiple trades already completed, there have been some rumblings that the Denver Broncos could get involved in the action.

We have been focused on several outside players the Broncos could bring in, but today we’re turning our attention to players that Denver could ship out.

We’ve put together a quick list of eight players the Broncos could entertain trading away before the deadline.

Of note, NFL Network has reported that teams could call about pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, but the Broncos seem very unlikely to trade him, so we did not include Cooper on our list.

Players Broncos could trade before deadline

1. RB Javonte Williams: He is the team’s best blocking back and Audric Estime has had some struggles with fumbles, so Denver might not be ready to move on from Williams just yet. He’s set to become a free agent next year, though, so the Broncos could perhaps send him to a team like the Cowboys in exchange for a draft pick.

2. OT Mike McGlinchey: His contract could complicate a potential trade, but McGlinchey has suddenly become expendable following the emergency of Alex Palczewski. Denver might prefer to make this kind of move during the offseason, though.

3. DL D.J. Jones: With Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers playing so well and Malcolm Roach rotating in, the Broncos might thinking about trading Jones before he hits free agency in 2025.

4. WR Courtland Sutton: He is Bo Nix’s favorite target, but Denver has received plenty of interest in Sutton over the last two seasons. We’ll see if teams call the Broncos about Sutton again before this year’s deadline.

5. CB Damarri Mathis: Pat Surtain, Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian serve as the team’s top three cornerbacks with Levi Wallace providing depth behind them. Tremon Smith is a special teams ace and Kris Abrams-Draine is a fifth-round draft pick who isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. That could leave Mathis as the odd man out.

6. QB Zach Wilson: The Broncos have repeatedly said that they believe Wilson will become a starter again in the NFL. In order for that to happen, Wilson might need a fresh start somewhere else.

7. QB Jarrett Stidham: Denver obviously wouldn’t trade both Wilson and Stidham, but they could certainly move one of them. Broncos coach Sean Payton seemed to hint that week that at least one team has called about the availability of Denver’s backup quarterbacks.

8. OLB Baron Browning: He is probably the Broncos’ most realistic trade candidate this year. Nik Bonitto (6.0) and Cooper (5.5) lead the team in sacks this fall and youngsters Jonah Elliss (2.0) and Dondrea Tillman (2.0) have also made their mark as rotational pass rushers. Denver has a surplus of pass rushers and Browning is scheduled to hit free agency next spring.

If the team makes any trades in the coming days, we will track all of the potential moves on Broncos Wire.

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Baron Browning comments on Broncos trade rumors

“I don’t want to leave but some things are out of my control,” Broncos OLB Baron Browning said when asked about trade rumors.

The Denver Broncos have a deep pass-rush rotation and outside linebacker Baron Browning might be viewed as an expendable asset leading up to the NFL’s trade deadline (Nov. 5).

Over the weekend, NFL Network reported that Browning “could be available” on the trade block. Following a 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Browning was asked about the trade speculation.

“I can only control what I can control,’’ Browning said, via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. “I can’t control what happens in the future, I have to stay in the moment. I do what I can to help this team win games. I would like to stay here. I don’t want to leave but some things are out of my control.”

Browning lost his starting job to Nik Bonitto while on injured reserve. Bonitto (6.0) leads the team in sacks this fall and Jonathon Cooper (5.5) is not far behind. Jonah Elliss (2.0) and Dondrea Tillman (2.0) have also made their mark as rotational pass rushers.

Browning, a third-round pick in 2021, is still seeking his first sack of the season.

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NFL Network says Broncos OLB Baron Browning ‘could be available’ via trade

Broncos OLB Baron Browning “could be available” leading up to the NFL’s trade deadline, according to NFL Network.

With the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) now just over one week away, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Baron Browning has been named a potential trade candidate.

“A converted off-the-ball LB who had 4.5 sacks last year, Browning’s playing time has dwindled in Denver and he’s in a contract year,” Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero wrote on NFL.com on Saturday. “He could be available. Denver has depth at the position.”

The Broncos had a nearly-even four-player pass rush on Sunday, spreading out snaps between Browning (33), Jonathon Cooper (33), Jonah Elliss (29) and Nik Bonitto (29). Dondrea Tillman was a healthy scratch on Sunday, but he played well when Browning was sidelined earlier this season.

With so much depth at the positon, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver listen to trade offers for Browning leading up to the deadline. Rapoport and Pelissero also wrote that Cooper “could draw interest as well,” but the Broncos seem less likely to trade him.

Bonitto (6.0) and Cooper (5.5) lead the team in sacks this fall. Elliss and Tillman both have two. Browning has been available for four games and is yet to record his first sack of the season.

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Broncos now have 7 players on injured reserve or PUP list

Going into Week 8, the Broncos have 5 players on injured reserve and 2 players on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

After activating three players from injured reserve last week, the Denver Broncos still have seven players on IR or physically unable to perform lists going into week 8. Five of those players will be eligible to return later this season.

Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) will be eligible to return in Week 9, and center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hand) can return in Week 10.

Denver linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) have been eligible to return from the PUP list since Week 5, but they apparently still need more time to recover.

Broncos eligible to return from IR/PUP

  1. LB Drew Sanders: Eligible to return since Week 5
  2. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell: Eligible to return since Week 5
  3. RB Tyler Badie: Eligible to return Week 9
  4. WR Josh Reynolds: Eligible to return Week 10
  5. C Luke Wattenberg: Eligible to return Week 10

The Broncos also have two players — linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle) — who are on season-ending IR.

Broncos on season-ending injured reserve

  1. LB Alex Singleton: Out for season
  2. OL Quinn Bailey: Out for season

If healthy, Badie could return after Denver hosts the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.

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Broncos open window for 2 starters to return from injured reserve

The Broncos have opened the 21-day window for OT Mike McGlinchey (MCL) and OLB Baron Browning (foot) to return from injured reserve.

The Denver Broncos opened the 21-day window for two starters to return from injured reserve on Tuesday.

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL) and outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot) returned to practice on Tuesday, which started their three-week window to return to the active roster.

If McGlinchey and Browning are not activated within the next 21 days, they will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Both players seem likely to be activated before the deadline, but it remains to be seen if they will be activated in time for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 17.

McGlinchey will likely immediately return to starting at right tackle once he returns. Browning, on the other hand, might be a rotational pass rusher because Nik Bonitto has played so well across from Jonathon Cooper.

The Broncos also opened the three-week window for cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) to return from IR last week, so he is a candidate to return in Week 7 as well. Denver currently has two open spots on the active roster after cutting two players on Tuesday.

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Broncos could have multiple players return from injured reserve this week

The bad news: Broncos have a short week. Good news: Denver has several players eligible to return from injured reserve ahead of TNF.

Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime (ankle) returned from injured reserve last week and more reinforcements could be on the way this week.

The Broncos will have a short week ahead of a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints, but the list of players eligible to return from IR ahead of Week 7 includes right tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL), outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot) and cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle).

If healthy, McGlinchey will immediately return to starting at right tackle. Mathis could be returning just in time to provide more depth at cornerback after star Pat Surtain suffered a concussion on Sunday.

Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) have been eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list since Week 5, but they might need more time to recover.

Denver running back Tyler Badie (back) will be eligible to return in Week 9. Center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hand) are eligible to return in Week 10.

Broncos eligible to return from IR/PUP

  1. CB Damarri Mathis: Eligible to return since Week 5
  2. LB Drew Sanders: Eligible to return since Week 5
  3. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell: Eligible to return since Week 5
  4. OT Mike McGlinchey: Eligible to return Week 7
  5. OLB Baron Browning: Eligible to return Week 7
  6.  RB Tyler Badie: Eligible to return Week 9
  7. WR Josh Reynolds: Eligible to return Week 10
  8. C Luke Wattenberg: Eligible to return Week 10

The Broncos also have two players — linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle) — who are on season-ending IR.

Broncos on season-ending inured reserve

  1. LB Alex Singleton: Out for season
  2. OL Quinn Bailey: Out for season

Denver will have two light practices leading up to TNF this week.

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Broncos now have 10 players on injured reserve or PUP list

Going into Week 6, the Broncos have 8 players on injured reserve and 2 players on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

The Denver Broncos have ten players on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list going into Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Eight of those players will be eligible to return later this season.

Denver activated running back Audric Estime (ankle) from IR to the 53-man roster on Saturday and placed center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hand) on IR. Wattenberg and Reynolds can return in Week 10.

Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) have been eligible to return from the PUP list since Week 5, but they still need more time to recover.

Denver cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) is also eligible to return from IR but wasn’t activated this week.

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL) and outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot) can return in Week 7. Denver running back Tyler Badie (back) will be eligible to return in Week 9.

Broncos eligible to return from IR/PUP

  1. CB Damarri Mathis: Eligible to return since Week 5
  2. LB Drew Sanders: Eligible to return since Week 5
  3. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell: Eligible to return since Week 5
  4. OT Mike McGlinchey: Eligible to return Week 7
  5. OLB Baron Browning: Eligible to return Week 7
  6.  RB Tyler Badie: Eligible to return Week 9
  7. WR Josh Reynolds: Eligible to return Week 10
  8. C Luke Wattenberg: Eligible to return Week 10

The Broncos also have two players — linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle) — who are on season-ending IR.

Broncos on season-ending inured reserve

  1. LB Alex Singleton: Out for season
  2. OL Quinn Bailey: Out for season

If healthy, McGlinchey can be activated in time for the team’s Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints in Week 7.

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