One of Denver's top defensive players is in the middle of controversy just ahead of the 2026 season. If Jonathon Cooper's legal situation continues to grow and can place the Broncos in a difficult position.

It has raised questions regarding whether Denver will move on from the veteran pass rusher, considering his importance to the defense and his recent contract extension. But per Travis Wakeman of The Sporting News, there is another factor to be considered.

"If the Broncos were to move on from Cooper, they would eat $5.7 million in dead money. That would certainly be one of the biggest factors in any potential decision," wrote Wakeman.

While $5.7 million may not impact Denver's salary cap largely, it would still be a significant amount of money tied to a player no longer on the roster.

Cooper was arrested last week for two separate violations, with both charges involving serious accusations. The Broncos have already excused him from mandatory minicamp to deal with the issues. As of now, it is unclear if this will affect his mandatory camp attendance.

The Broncos are considering other options in the meantime, like giving Jonah Elliss a starting role and sending Von Miller to the forefront. Usage of Que Robinson (LB), and Dondrea Tilman (LB) can also be increased.

The Broncos have a lot to sort out as the Jonathon Cooper situation unfolds. Meanwhile, Von Miller is embracing the opportunity of playing for the Broncos again.

NFL analyst makes strong case for Von Miller's return

Veteran pass rusher Von Miller may be 37 years old, but some believe he still has plenty left to offer an NFL contender. In a recent discussion, NFL analyst Eric Edholm argued that he deserves another opportunity.

"I know everyone (except offensive linemen) is pining for an Aaron Donald comeback, but what about Von Miller? He seems willing to give it another run and could be a fine pass-rush specialist for the Broncos", wrote Edholm on NFL.com. "With 3.5 more sacks, he’d surpass Michael Strahan for No. 6 on the all-time list. I’d love to see him continue his climb up the board."

The former Super Bowl MVP remains an effective pass rusher, recording nine sacks last season and proving he can still create pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

With only 3.5 sacks needed to surpass Michael Strahan, Miller has both personal motivation and on-field respect that could explain his another season in the league.

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit