After Assistant Head Coach Jim Leonhard Joins Bills as DC, 3 Broncos Players Want to Follow Him to Buffalo

The NFL offseason is barely underway, but one proposed trade idea has already set social media buzzing across two fan bases. According to league chatter, Cleveland Browns have quietly floated a bold concept internally: exploring a framework that would send their franchise defensive star to Denver Broncos in exchange for an elite defensive centerpiece. It’s not an official offer. It’s not even a negotiation yet. But the idea alone speaks volumes about where both franchises stand entering the 2026 offseason. Cleveland finds itself at a crossroads. With another uneven year behind them and mounting pressure to reset the roster, the Browns are reportedly open to creative solutions. Moving a generational defender like Myles Garrett would be a seismic shift — but one that could finally rebalance an offense that has lacked consistency, explosiveness, and a true identity. Denver, meanwhile, remains firmly in win-now mode. The Broncos’ defense has shown flashes, but when games tightened late in the season, the need for a dominant, game-changing pass rusher became impossible to ignore. Pairing a proven superstar with Denver’s defensive scheme would instantly reshape the defensive ceiling. That’s where this idea gains traction. By the middle of the discussion, one name inevitably surfaces as the centerpiece from Denver’s side: Jonathon Cooper. Cooper’s future in Denver has been the subject of quiet speculation for months. While still one of the league’s most physically gifted and disruptive young edge rushers, frustration with his role surfaced at times during the 2025 season. League sources suggest Cleveland views Cooper as the type of culture-changing defender who could stabilize a young locker room and give the Browns a true identity on the back end overnight. From Denver’s perspective, the logic is uncomfortable — but not irrational. Elite edge rushers are harder to replace than elite cornerbacks. A move like this would be less about talent evaluation and more about positional scarcity and championship math. The proposed structure would be massive, likely involving additional draft compensation. But the foundation is clear: Cleveland gets a proven defensive cornerstone in his prime. Denver gets a defensive force capable of swinging playoff games by himself. No deal is imminent. In fact, Denver executives are believed to be extremely reluctant to move Jonathon Cooper unless absolutely blown away. Still, the mere existence of this floated idea underscores how aggressive this offseason could become. Sometimes, the most dangerous trades are the ones that start as "just a thought." And this one? It’s a thought that won’t go away quietly.