The Broncos are making moves ahead of the NFL trading deadline after all.
Denver is sending outside linebacker Baron Browning to Arizona in return for a sixth-round draft pick, multiple sources confirmed Monday to The Post.
Browning, a third-round pick in 2021, is in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s been productive when healthy but also has missed time due to multiple injuries in his career. Browning missed four games earlier this season due to a foot injury — he had a sprain and a bone bruise but no structural damage — but has been active for Denver’s past three games.
Browning told The Post last week that he was happy in Denver and didn’t want to be traded.
“I love it here,” Browning said. “I love my teammates. This is where I was drafted. And I hate moving.”
Browning start the season in Denver’s starting lineup defensively but ended up on injured reserve after the Week 2 foot injury.
Since his return, he’s played significant snaps but done so on the No. 2 line. The Broncos have been starting Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, each of whom have emerged as capable pass-rushers. Bonitto recorded a sack in six straight games and tackled Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson for an 8-yard loss that was ruled a tackle for loss on Sunday.
Cooper is in the final year of his rookie contract but looks like at least a candidate for an extension later in the year or maybe, because Denver is tight against the salary cap, after the season.
The Broncos have also seen promising signs from rookie third-rounder Jonah Elliss, who has been working the No. 2 group all season. The move could mean more playing time going forward for Dondrea Tillman, who has been a healthy scratch the past three weeks but logged two sacks in his NFL debut earlier this season.
Arizona is paying Browning’s salary the rest of the year, a source told The Post. It’s not a big number — half of his $3.116 million base salary — but the Broncos are tight up against the salary cap, so even a little bit of breathing room comes in handy.
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