Jonathon Cooper makes Broncos think about contract extension

The Broncos have shown a willingness to take care of their own.

Ahead of the 2024 season, the organization signed cornerback Pat Surtain II and right guard Quinn Meinerz to major contract extensions, making them two of the highest-paid players at their respective positions. So who should be the next Denver player to land a long-term contract?

Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper certainly makes a case. He plays one of the best positions on the field and his emergence over the past two seasons is encouraging the Broncos to lock him up before he hits free agency in March 2025.

After playing a reserved role during his first two seasons, Cooper broke out following the departures of veterans Randy Gregory and Frank Clark in 2023. According to Next Gen Stats, he finished with a team-best 8.5 sacks and 55 quarterback pressures.

Through seven games this season, Cooper has been even better at the center of one of the best pass-rush defenses in the league. Cooper sacked quarterback Geno Smith on the first defensive play of the year, and he hasn’t let up since.

The 26-year-old is second on the team in sacks (4.5) and pressures (22), while recording at least four pressures in four games. The Broncos have generated the second-highest pressure rate (41%) and third-highest sack rate (9.7%) in the league.

But Cooper is more than just an effective pass rusher. He has also impacted Denver’s run defense. Cooper, a seventh-round pick, has 11 run stops — ranking him third among edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus.

“(Cooper is) a straight downhill (type of player),” head coach Sean Payton said. “That becomes a burden if you’re a tight end or even a tackle. You feel a strong presence. He is certainly one of our leading players that we rely on. Not only for the pressure in the passing game, but also for creating an advantage in the running game.”

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph called Cooper the type of player who allows a coach to change the culture because of his toughness and attitude toward the game. Joseph added that Cooper’s energy is contagious and drives players to emulate it.

Former Ohio State pass rusher and teammate Baron Browning are two of 14 players on the active roster due to reaching unrestricted free agency this season. If the Broncos believe Cooper can play a foundational role in this new era, expanding him should be one of their priorities next spring.

This season, he has a cap hit of $3.14 million, according to Over The Cap. If Cooper’s strong play continues for the rest of the season, he could get a major payday. According to Over the Cap’s Valuation metric, which measures contract value with on-field production, Cooper is worth $19.65 million per year.

He could land a similar deal to Eagles edge rusher Bryce Huff, who signed a three-year, $51 million deal ($34 million guaranteed) after recording 10 sacks for the Jets in 2023. Huff, almost like Cooper, was an undrafted free agent who blossomed last year. He has an average annual salary of $17.03 million and has four empty years left on his contract.

Financially, Denver should be in a better position to expand Cooper. After eating $53 million in dead money from quarterback Russell Wilson’s contract this year, the Broncos are projected to have $70.9 million in cap space in 2025, according to Over The Cap.

However, the Broncos may not be able to retain Browning and Cooper, which could be another reason why they took edge rusher Jonah Elliss in the third round of April’s draft. If Denver faces that dilemma, Cooper may have an advantage because of his ability to stay on the field. Browning played his third game of the season against New Orleans on Thursday. He missed the previous four games while on injured reserve with a foot injury and missed seven games during the 2023 season.