Former 7th-Round Draft Pick Called “Biggest Hidden Gem” of the Broncos
Former 7th-Round Draft Pick Called “Biggest Hidden Gem” of the Broncos
The 2024 Denver Broncos defense has become the season’s biggest story.
Week 5 of Thursday Night Football has the unit ranked third in terms of points allowed and second in terms of yards allowed.
Denver’s defense is led by Pat Surtain II, an All-Pro cornerback. But Jonathan Cooper is also a part of it. Cooper was deemed the Broncos’
“biggest hidden gem” by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox in a piece that was released on October 4.
With 3.0 sacks, Cooper, 26, is the Broncos’ top player.
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathan Cooper is virtually unknown to casual fans,
despite the fact that he turned into a full-time starter last season. According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report,
the 2021 seventh-round selection pick has played his whole NFL career for a team that hasn’t received much great press.
Cooper has the potential to be a huge star in that defense. He finished the previous season with 8.5 sacks,
a forced fumble, and a defensive score, and he is off to another quick start in 2024.
Watch · 29 Sep 2024 1167 on X at 10:15 p.m. In response Read 33 responses by copying the link.
Cooper did not log a single sack during the Jets victory. Additionally, Pro Football Focus gave him the seventh-best defense grade
(fifth among players with ten or more snaps). However, Cooper made an impression and received recognition from ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
On September 3, Orlovsky wrote on X, “Jonathan Cooper was a game wrecker yesterday.”
Jonathon Cooper Could Be Heading for Pro Bowl Honors
With 12.5 sacks, Cooper is on track to surpass his previous career high. With a great start in the last year of his four-year,
$3.6 million contract, he has a chance to finish as one of the league’s best in 2024.
Knox stated, “Expect Cooper to earn some serious Pro Bowl consideration if the Broncos do become a factor in the AFC,
and their defense leads the way.”
Cooper’s negotiating power might increase dramatically with a trip to the Pro Bowl.
On October 2, Troy Renck of The Denver Post commented, “Cooper is a good player who represents great value.
He will be a free agent at the end of the season and should be a priority to keep.”
“Originally expected to be selected in the third round of the 2021 draft,
he was selected in the seventh round because a pre-draft physical indicated a return of atrial fibrillation,
which he had been previously diagnosed with eight years earlier. There were several procedures after.
According to Stathead, Cooper has led the Broncos in sacks since 2021 with 16.0, 4.0 more than former teammate
Dre’Mont Jones and 4.5 more than current colleague Nik Bonitto.
In his four games since joining the NFL, Cooper has missed four.
Jonathan Cooper Broncos’ breakthrough in the contracted year
Denver Broncos on SI’s Bob Morris stated on October 2 that “if Cooper continues to play at his current level,
a three-year, $56M deal with $35M guaranteed would be reasonable.” “It’s not absolutely necessary,
but if the Broncos get a deal done during the season, they could consider an option bonus for 2025 to lower his cap number that year.”
More than According to The Cap, the Broncos‘ cap space in 2025 will be $71.8 million.
They will be losing a number of important players to free agency. Among them,
starting running back Javonte Williams and left tackle Garett Bolles stand out the most.
Williams plays a position where there is a lot of turnover, and Bolles is getting older.
The Broncos should have enough room to sign Cooper to a contract that is comparable to Morris’.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Since 2016, he has written for FanSided,
Last Word on Sports, and Clocker Sports, among other publications, covering both leagues.
Illinois’ Villa Park is home to him. Josh’s handle on Instagram and Twitter is @JoshGBuck. Additional details regarding Josh Buckhalter
Leave a Reply