The Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos are each 5-4, but Monday’s trade reflected that the two teams hold different opinions of where their seasons are headed.
The Cardinals agreed to acquire outside linebacker Baron Browning from the Broncos in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
The move could end up proving beneficial for both franchises, as the Cardinals are gearing up for a playoff push in the NFC West at the same time the Broncos are taking stock of things after a 41-10 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Here’s how the swap breaks down for both teams:
Baron Browning trade grades
Cardinals: B+
Arizona’s pass rush has been dormant for almost the entire season, with the team posting the NFL’s worst collective pass rush win rate (27%) through the first eight games of the season, according to ESPN. Things changed Sunday, when the Cardinals overwhelmed Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears for six sacks in a 29-9 win. But this was truly an outlier performance, with 16 different players registering a pressure, according to Next Gen Stats, against an offense that was clearly unable to adjust to what was being thrown at it.
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It might seem strange for the Cardinals to be buyers – and for a half-season rental – at this point given the overall state of the roster. But a sixth-round pick isn’t a hefty price to pay, and the organization’s first division title since 2015 is at stake. Hard to say no to a clear talent upgrade for a position of need. If Browning can stay healthy, he raises the ceiling of this group that doesn’t have much top-line talent in its front seven, especially after B.J. Ojulari and Dennis Gardeck were lost to torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
Broncos: B
It’s a modest return for a former third-round draft pick, but a person with knowledge of the agreement – speaking on condition of anonymity because financial details had not been made public – confirmed to USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon that outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper signed a four-year, $60 million extension with the Broncos this weekend. Given Nik Bonitto’s breakout season, that cements that there wasn’t a future for Browning in Denver beyond this season. Barring an injury, the Broncos’ stellar pass rush – tops in the NFL in pass rush win rate (57%) after eight weeks – shouldn’t take too much of a hit.
This story has been updated with new information.
