Broncos trade OLB, extend another

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Yes, Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper were teammates the past eight years – four at Ohio State and four more with the Broncos.

They also competed against each other, more than they knew. 

The Broncos wound up keeping Cooper with a four-year, $60 million deal that includes $33 million in guarantees, a source told 9NEWS. Cooper will get $27 million in new guaranteed money between now and the end of the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, the Broncos dealt Browning to Arizona for a sixth-round draft pick, a source confirmed. Cooper signed the deal Saturday at the Broncos’ Owing Mills, Maryland hotel but kept it quiet so as to not be a distraction from the game Sunday against the Ravens.

Cooper, apparently won the playoff with Browning.

With another outside linebacker Drew Sanders, a third-round pick last year, expected to return to practice this week from an Achilles injury, the Broncos suddenly had a logjam at the outside linebacker position. The Broncos have two other outside linebackers — Deondra Tillman on their 53-man roster and Andrew Farmer on their practice squad.

“Baron is a guy we all really respect and loved and we wish him nothing but the best,” said Broncos’ defensive end Zach Allen, who four years for the Arizona Cardinals previous to signing a four-year deal with the Broncos last yer. “Going to Arizona, a place I’m familar with, I’m sure he and I are going to stay in contact about that and how to handle that whole transition. Arizona is a spot that I’m very appreciative of and I’m sure they’ll treat Baron very well and he’ll do great things there.”

Browning has elite athleticism of power, strength and speed but he was also injury prone. He had just 9.5 sacks combined — none this year — since converting from inside to outside linebacker prior to the 2022 season.

Cooper, an overachiever-type, has 18.5 sacks the past four seasons, including 5.5 this year.

“A guy like Coop we value so highly for what he does both in the pass and the run game,” Allen said. “He truly is the ultimate team player willing to do whatever helps. You see him on special teams, too. It’s awesome to see guys like that get rewarded. I think it sends a real good message around the locker room, showing guys that if you do it the right way you’ll get rewarded.”

Cooper has missed just four games in four seasons; Browning has missed 17 because of various injuries, a full season’s worth.