Tag: outside linebacker

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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Broncos coach Sean Payton gives update on NFL trade deadline

“Our focus is on this football team right here,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline.

Leading up to the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5), the Denver Broncos have a pair of quality backup quarterbacks on their roster and a surplus of pass rushers.

With extra depth at certain positions, will the Broncos consider trading away players ahead of the deadline?

“That’s a great question,” coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “There’s so much attention obviously that gets focused around the trade deadline. I think any [general manager] — everyone’s picking the phone up. There are discussions and yet any decision or move that a team would make — not just us — would be with the best interest of the team that’s making the deal, acquiring or trading.

“I’ve said this before, George [Paton] will come into my office three times a day, and twice we might talk about something else and then once… Or I’ll be down in his office talking. It’s that time of the year where you can get an early feel of some… Remember there’s a trade, and then there’s the contract involved in the trade which is the devil in the details with any player. Our focus is on this football team right here.”

In addition to quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham, outside linebacker Baron Browning is another player to keep an eye on leading up to the deadline. We will track any potential trades 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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From the UFL to NFL, Dondrea Tillman is making the most of his opportunity with Broncos

Dondrea Tillman joined the Broncos after winning three titles with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He recorded two sacks in his NFL debut.

Dondrea Tillman has had quite a football journey.

After playing college football at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Tillman spent two years out of football. He then got an opportunity to play in The Spring League in 2021.

The pass rusher’s performance in that league impressed coaches from the Birmingham Stallions, who used a third-round pick to select Tillman in the 2022 USFL draft. Tillman went on to win three straight titles with the Stallions (two in the USFL and one in the UFL this spring).

Tillman dominated spring football and the Denver Broncos signed him following the conclusion of the UFL’s 2024 season. After the Broncos lost Baron Browning to a foot injury, Tillman was promoted to the 53-man roster ahead of the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.

Making his NFL debut on Sunday, Tillman became the first Denver player since at least 1970 to record two sacks in his debut.

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“We weren’t going to just let the other three play 60 snaps or 50 snaps,” coach Sean Payton said of the outside linebacker rotation. “A guy like that was coming up, he’s got to be playing in the kicking game and then getting snaps on defense. I was pleased with his effort.

“He’s strong. I’ve mentioned earlier in the week, we’ve seen a lot from him. I was excited to see him take advantage of the opportunity.”

The Broncos’ defense dominated from start to finish with seven sacks and two takeaways in a 26-7 victory. Tillman finished the day with three total tackles and his two sacks resulted in the loss of 18 yards for Tampa Bay.

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“It feels great,” Tillman said after the game, via the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel. “It’s been a lot of time. I’ve been waiting for this. It’s a dream come true. It’s really a blessing.”

After impressing in his first NFL game, the 26-year-old Tillman figures to remain a part of Denver’s pass rush rotation going forward.

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Broncos officially sign pass rusher to practice squad

The Broncos officially signed outside linebacker Andrew Farmer to their practice squad on Wednesday.

The Denver Broncos have officially signed outside linebacker Andrew Farmer to their practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.

Farmer (6-4, 250 pounds) visited the team Tuesday and officially signed before Wednesday’s practice. The Broncos have been tracking Farmer for a while now. Denver met with Farmer at the 2023 Hula Bowl and he worked out for the team earlier this month.

After going undrafted out of Lane College last spring, Farmer signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as a college free agent. Splitting time between the practice squad and active roster, Farmer appeared in eight games with the Chargers last season. He totaled three tackles on 60 snaps on defense. Farmer also played 48 snaps on special teams in 2023.

Before landing in Los Angeles, Farmer recorded 114 tackles, 17.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles from 2021-2022 at Lane College. The 24-year-old pass rusher will now get a chance to continue his NFL career in Denver.

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Broncos promote pass rusher Dondrea Tillman to 53-man roster

The Broncos are adding OLB Dondrea Tillman to the 53-man roster. At least one more move is on the way.

The Denver Broncos will promote outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Denver will need to create a spot for Tillman on the active roster. One way they could do so would be by placing right tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL) on injured reserve. That would rule McGlinchey out for at least four games (the tackle needs “about a month” to recover).

The Broncos are also adding outside linebacker Andrew Farmer to the practice squad. Denver shoring up its depth at the position might be a sign that pass rusher Baron Browning (foot) is in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tillman (6-4, 270 pounds) dominated in spring football, winning three straight championships with Birmingham Stallions before landing in Denver this offseason. Tillman is 26 years old, but this fall marks his first season in the NFL.

The Tillman and Farmer moves should become official before Wednesday’s practice. A third move is still to be determined, but it will likely involve a player going on IR to free up a roster spot for Tillman.

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NFL fines 2 Broncos players for Week 1 offenses

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for roughing the passer and DB Brandon Jones was fined $11,255 for unnecessary roughness in Week 1.

The NFL has fined a pair of Denver Broncos defenders following offenses committed in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for a roughing the passer penalty against Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in the first quarter, according to The Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel.

Denver safety Brandon Jones was also fined $11,255 for unnecessary roughness after he knocked off the helmet of Seattle wide receiver Jake Bobo in the fourth quarter.

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These mark the Broncos’ first fines of the 2024 season. Last year, former Denver safety Kareem Jackson was the team’s most-fined player. Jackson’s fines and suspensions cost him more than $648,558 in 2023.

After last week’s 26-20 loss in Seattle, the Broncos are preparing to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. Denver’s game against the Steelers will be regionally televised on CBS and available to stream on fuboTV (try it free) for in-market fans at 2:25 p.m. MT. The Broncos are considered betting underdogs despite playing at home.

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Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper posted the NFL’s best pressure rate in Week 1

Broncos OLB rusher Jonathon Cooper generated pressure on 41.2% of his pass rush snaps in Week 1, the best percentage in the NFL.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper posted the NFL’s best pressure rate (41.2%) in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, according to The 33rd Team.

That pressure led to a pair of sacks for Cooper, tied for third-most in the league. The pass rusher would have traded those sacks for a win.

“It’s okay, it’s good,” Cooper said of the sacks after a 26-20 loss in Seattle. “It wasn’t enough because we didn’t win. I feel like the win is what’s most important. Always, always. It doesn’t matter if I have five sacks in the first half. If we don’t get that win, then what’s the point?”

Cooper’s performance in Week 1 did not surprise defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

“I’ve been a fan of ‘Coop’ for years,” Joseph said Thursday. “He’s only improved each year I’ve been here in the last two years. He is a good football player. Versus the run and versus the pass, he wins his one-on-ones. He is the same every day, so I’m not surprised that he was winning one-on-ones.”

This week, Cooper will go up against a Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line that allowed two sacks in Week 1. Cooper will aim to build on his sack total in a winning effort on Sunday.

“The one thing you always see from ‘Coop,’ number one, he’s a downhill straight-line, he’s a physical player,” coach Sean Payton said. “So that becomes a load if you’re a tight end or even if you’re a tackle. You feel a strong presence.

“He’s certainly one of our edge players that we rely on. Not only for pressure in the passing game, but also setting an edge in the run game.”

After leading the team with 8.5 sacks last season, Cooper is well on his way to the first double-digit sack campaign of his career.

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Broncos work out pass rusher, release player from IR with settlement

The Broncos worked out Andrew Farmer on Friday and released Durell Nchami from IR with an injury settlement.

The Denver Broncos had dealings with a pair of pass rushers on Friday.

Denver brought in free agent Andrew Farmer for a workout, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Farmer (6-4, 250 pounds) met with the Broncos at the Hula Bowl last year but went undrafted out of Lane College in 2023.

Farmer landed with the Los Angeles Chargers last year, initially on their practice squad, and later dressed for eight games. He recorded three tackles in those appearances, playing 60 snaps on defense and 48 snaps on special teams.

In addition to working out Farmer, Denver also reached an injury settlement with pass rusher Durell Nchami, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Nchami (6-4, 258 pounds) was waived with an injury designation during roster cuts last week. After clearing waivers, he reverted to IR.

Had he remained on IR, Nchami would have been ineligible to play this season. After reaching an injury settlement with the Broncos, Nchami was released and he is now a free agent. Once healthy, it’s possible that Nchami could return to the team later this season.

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