The Denver Broncos gave one pass-rusher from Ohio State a big contract extension while sending another to the Arizona Cardinals.
Jonathon Cooper became the latest NFL Buckeye to cash in with a big contract extension as he signed a four-year, $60 million deal with the Broncos that includes $33 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
COOOOOP is here to stay. @JonathonCooper7 x #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/kbxu52SPaa
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 4, 2024
One reason the #Broncos felt comfortable dealing edge Baron Browning: Over the weekend, they signed OLB Jonathan Cooper to a 4-year, $60M deal with $33M guaranteed, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 4, 2024
The news of his contract extension broke just minutes after the Broncos agreed to a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to send Baron Browning to Arizona in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
We've agreed to terms on a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for OLB Baron Browning.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 4, 2024
https://t.co/LNy6rHQm4w pic.twitter.com/Wors4NO28g
The Broncos selected both Cooper and Browning in the 2021 NFL draft. Browning was a third-round pick while Cooper was a seventh-round selection, but Cooper has been the more productive player in Denver. Three-and-a-half seasons into their NFL careers, Cooper has recorded 193 tackles with 18.5 sacks in 56 games while Browning has recorded 114 tackles with 9.5 sacks in 43 games.
With both set to become free agents next offseason, the Broncos decided to make sure Cooper would stick around as a long-term building block of their defense while moving on from Browning.
Cooper, who was a defensive end at Ohio State but plays as an outside linebacker in Denver‘s 3-4 defense, joins a list of former OSU defensive linemen who have inked big contracts in recent years that includes Nick Bosa (five-year, $170 million contract in 2023), Joey Bosa (five-year, $135 million contract in 2020), Dre’Mont Jones (three-year, $51 million contract in 2023), Cameron Heyward (three-year, $45 million contract in 2024), Sam Hubbard (four-year, $40 million contract in 2021) and DaVon Hamilton (three-year, $34.5 million contract in 2023).
