Sean Payton Shares Thoughts on Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper
Only a couple of days before the 2021 NFL draft, Jonathon Cooper learned from his doctors that he had an irregularity on an electrocardiogram test. It understandably had an adverse effect on his draft stock.
The Denver Broncos drafted the Ohio State stand-out with the No. 239 overall pick in the seventh round. To correct his irregular heartbeat, Cooper would then undergo three heart procedures that offseason.
Despite all this, Cooper made the Broncos' 53-man roster out of training camp that year and went on to appear in all 16 games with five starts. In the wake of the Von Miller trade in the middle of the 2021 season, the Broncos had no choice but to turn to the rookie at times.
Now with two NFL seasons under his belt, Cooper is fighting to make a good impression with a new coaching staff — his third in as many years. With Baron Browning's offseason surgery and subsequent recovery timetable this year, opportunity has perhaps never knocked louder for Cooper.
With the majority of the Broncos' offseason training program in the books, Coach Payton shared his impressions on Cooper during the team's mandatory minicamp earlier this week.
“It’s difficult because those are the groups that aren’t in pads, but you certainly see the get-off, the explosion, and the experience," Payton said of Cooper. "I think when we get into training camp, you then get a better feel. I’ll get a better feel for a lot of these players that I still don’t know well. I know them now and I know their names, but I’ve just seen it so many times when the pads come on, and you get a completely different perspective from a certain running back or a certain someone who stands out. It becomes a little clearer, but he’s important to what we’re doing.”
Translation: Payton seems to have liked what he's seen from Cooper, but he'll wait to see how he performs in pads before coming to any lasting conclusion on the player's outlook. In the wake of the Browning surgery, the Broncos signed veteran rush linebacker Frank Clark, who joins Randy Gregory as a projected starter at the position.
Behind Clark and Gregory, the Broncos have 2022 second-rounder Nik Bonitto, who is under some pressure to turn a corner entering Year 2, as well Cooper, and Christopher Allen, the last of whom was a college free agent last year out of Alabama who missed his rookie season with a foot injury.
Cooper brings 30 games of experience with nine starts to the table, along with 86 combined tackles (48 solo), six tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery, and 4.5 sacks. Cooper's experience seems to be of encouragement to Payton, and based on what we know of the 25-year-old player's work ethic, you've got to like his 2023 outlook.
Grab your copy of Sports Illustrated's commemorative Denver Nuggets Championship issue!
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
