The Denver Broncos are sitting with a 4-3 record, with two games left before the trade deadline, but there are two players the team should look to trade. That doesn’t mean selling a player off for whatever Denver can get, but if the team can get a reasonable offer, it should take it.
The fact that both are on the defensive side of the ball complicates a potential trade of these two players, which is why the Broncos shouldn’t just accept any offer. Of course, there are a few other players the Broncos could look to move, like tight end Greg Dulcich, who’s been a healthy scratch for the last two games. The parties involved need a change of scenery.
However, the Dulcich subject is for another time. The two defensive players I’m talking about today are guys who aren’t getting talked about enough as potential trade chips. Let’s dive in.
Baron Browning | OLB
Browning had a lot of hope riding on him entering the season. He has struggled to stay healthy in his career, including missing four of the last five games by being on injured reserve. Browning is in the final year of his rookie contract, as is Jonathon Cooper. But at this point, it’s clear that Cooper should be retained.
The Broncos defense did a great job when Browning was out, with Nik Bonitto stepping up. Bonitto notched a sack in each of the four games Browning missed and a sack in the veteran’s first game back on Thursday night. With Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman also stepping up, Browning is expendable.
Multiple teams could use pass-rushing help, and Browning does have some prowess there, though it isn’t showing this season. In three games played, he’s picked up one pressure in each of those games with zero sacks, although he has only played 48 pass rush snaps. He picked up three stops in the season opener but hasn’t picked up a stop in the 43 snaps he played in the other two games.
There isn’t much the Broncos can ask for in return for Browning due to his injury history and being in a contract year. While the Broncos shouldn’t sell just to sell, they should jump at the opportunity to get something in exchange instead of hoping they can get a decent compensatory pick in 2026 with the contract he signs in the offseason.
