Assessing the Baron Browning Trade: Who Came Out on Top Between the Cardinals and Broncos?
Both the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos are sitting at 5-4, but the trade that took place on Monday indicates that they have different perspectives on their season’s trajectory.
The Cardinals made a deal to bring in Baron Browning, an outside linebacker, from the Broncos in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
This trade could prove beneficial for both teams: the Cardinals are aiming for a playoff spot in the competitive NFC West, while the Broncos are reassessing their situation following a significant 41-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Let’s break down the implications of this trade for each team:
Trade Assessment for Baron Browning
Cardinals: B+
Arizona’s pass rush has struggled for most of the season, currently ranked the lowest in the NFL with a dismal win rate of just 27%, as noted by ESPN. However, they had a standout game recently, managing six sacks against the Chicago Bears, contributing to a 29-9 victory. This performance was unusual, as 16 players managed to apply pressure against a Bears offense that struggled to adapt, per Next Gen Stats.
While it might seem odd for the Cardinals to be making a trade for a player who will only be with them for a short stint, the cost of a sixth-round pick is reasonable. The Cardinals are vying for their first division title since 2015, making a talent upgrade in a weak area hard to pass up. If Browning can maintain his health, he could significantly improve a front seven that has lacked elite talent, especially with injury setbacks to B.J. Ojulari and Dennis Gardeck.
Broncos: B
The return for Browning, a former third-round pick, may seem modest, but insiders indicated that outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper recently inked a four-year, $60 million extension, which confirms that Browning’s role in Denver was limited moving forward. With the emergence of Nik Bonitto this season, the Broncos’ impressive pass rush—leading the league in pass rush win rate at 57%—is unlikely to suffer greatly from Browning’s departure unless injuries occur.
This article has been updated with the latest information.
