Tag: pass rusher

Twitter reacts to Broncos giving Jonathon Cooper an extension

Here’s how Twitter/X reacted when the Broncos gave Jonathon Cooper a four-year contract extension.

The Denver Broncos were busy over the last 72 hours.

The Broncos quietly gave pass rusher Jonathon Cooper a four-year, $60 million contract extension on Saturday. Two days later, Denver traded fellow edge defender Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals for a sixth-round draft pick.

Following the news of the Browning extension, here’s a sampling of how fans and pundits reacted to the deal on Twitter/X.

The NFL’s trade deadline is 2 p.m. MT on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Twitter reacts to Broncos trading Baron Browning to Cardinals

The Broncos traded pass rusher Baron Browning to the Cardinals. Here’s how Twitter/X reacted to the news.

The Denver Broncos agreed to trade pass rusher Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.

Here’s a sampling of how fans and pundits agreed to the news on Twitter/X.

Denver also gave a four-year, $60 million contract extension to outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, shoring up the team’s long-term plan at the position. The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 2:00 p.m. MT.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

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.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

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.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals Joshua Ucheā€™s playing chances vs. Buccaneers in Week 9

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals Joshua Ucheā€™s playing chances vs. the Tampa Bay #Buccaneers in Week 9 | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media before practice on Thursday. He gave his thoughts on the newly acquired Joshua Ucheā€™s chances of playing on Monday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

ā€œWeā€™ve had the benefit of having played against him, so we know heā€™s a very aggressive, good pass rusher, good all-around player, but pass rusher,ā€ Reid said. So, weā€™ll work him with the defensive line rotation-wise. As long as he can handle anything, I wouldnā€™t expect that he wouldnā€™t. But heā€™ll start today working in there and getting used to what we do.ā€

During his 58 career games, the former Michigan Wolverine has 20.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.

ā€œWe just know how important that position is, and adding him into the mix there is something that helps us as a football team; Iā€™d tell you thatā€™s why we did that,ā€ said Reid. ā€œYeah, i think there is a good chance; weā€™ll see, though. (regarding Ucheā€™s availability on Monday).

Uche is a well-known pass rusher who will have a chance to make big plays in the Chiefsā€™ already highly touted defense.

Seahawks host ex-Broncos pass rusher on free agent visit

Former Broncos pass rusher Randy Gregory had a free agent visit with the Seahawks on Wednesday.

The Seattle Seahawks hosted former Denver Broncos pass rusher Randy Gregory on a free agent visit today, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

Gregory, 31, signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Broncos in 2022. He was healthy for six games in 2022 and totaled two sacks. Last season, Gregory recorded one sack in five games before being tradedĀ to the San Francisco 49ers.

Gregory signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this spring, but he was released this summer after never reporting to the team. Gregory also filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Broncos this summer for what he believes were discriminatory fines. Though the team was named in the lawsuit, it’s primarily a case against the NFL.

ā€œIā€™m aware of what was written in the lawsuit, but itā€™s nothing that I had to deal with directly at all,” Denver coach Sean Payton said in June. “I think it is more ā€” and even talking with his agent ā€” I think itā€™s more of a league issue than necessarily a Broncos issue. Nonetheless, there was nothing that I ever dealt with.ā€

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, the Miami Dolphins designated wide receiver River Cracraft to return and the Los Angeles Chargers promoted center Sam Mustipher to the active roster on Wednesday.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Baron Browning comments on Broncos trade rumors

“I donā€™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.

ā€œI can only control what I can control,ā€™ā€™ Browning said, via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. ā€œI canā€™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 donā€™t want to leave but some things are out of my control.ā€

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.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

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),Ā 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.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Nik Bonitto makes Broncos history by matching a Von Miller stat

Nik Bonitto is the first Broncos pass rusher since Von Miller (2018) to record at least one sack in five straight games.

After recording three tackles, three quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss and one sack in a 33-10 win over the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto has now recorded a sack in five straight games.

Bonitto is the first player in franchise history to record a sack in five consecutive games since Von Miller did so in 2018 (and 2017 and 2015). Miller holds the team’s all-time record with six straight games recording at least one sack (2018).

As a team, the Broncos have totaled 28 sacks this season, which leads the league going into Sunday’s games (the New York Giants are second with 26). Vance Joseph’s defense recorded six sacks against the Saints, marking the fifth straight game that Denver has totaled at least three sacks. The last time that happened for the Broncos was in 2015.

Denver’s 28 sacks are the third-most through seven weeks in franchise history, and the most since 2015. The Broncos have 12 players with at least half a sack this fall with Bonitto (five), Jonathon Cooper (4.5) and Zach Allen (4.0) leading the way.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos open window for 2 starters to return from injured reserve

The Broncos have opened the 21-day window for OT Mike McGlincheyĀ (MCL) and OLB Baron BrowningĀ (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 McGlincheyĀ (MCL) and outside linebacker Baron BrowningĀ (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 cornerbackĀ Damarri MathisĀ (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.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]