Denver Broncos fans, brace for big news: outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is gunning for a blockbuster contract extension, reportedly seeking a deal “in excess of” $20 million annually, per a May 6, 2025, X post by
@KelbermanNFL. Fresh off a breakout 2024 season that cemented him as one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers, Bonitto’s bold ask underscores his value to a Broncos defense that led the league in sacks. As the 25-year-old enters the final year of his rookie deal, here’s why his contract push has Denver buzzing and how it could shape the team’s future.
Bonitto’s Breakout: A Pro Bowl Season for the Ages
Drafted 64th overall in 2022 out of Oklahoma, Nik Bonitto transformed from a rotational pass rusher into a defensive cornerstone in 2024. His stat line was jaw-dropping: 48 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, a team-high 13.5 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and two defensive touchdowns (a 70-yard pick-six vs. Cleveland and a 50-yard fumble return vs. Indianapolis). His efforts earned him a Pro Bowl nod, second-team All-Pro honors, and a ninth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Bonitto’s impact went beyond numbers. He and Jonathon Cooper (10.5 sacks) powered a Broncos pass rush that set a franchise record with 63 sacks, the most in the NFL and tied for ninth-most in a single season league history. His six pressures against Kansas City, including three “quick pressures” in under 2.5 seconds, showcased his elite speed and bend, drawing comparisons to Broncos legend Von Miller. “He’s a guy I’ve always looked at as the pinnacle,” Bonitto said of Miller post-draft. Now, he’s chasing that legacy—and a payday to match.
The $20M+ Demand: Fair or Risky?
Bonitto’s reported $20 million-plus annual ask places him among the NFL’s top-paid edge rushers. For context, Over The Cap lists players like Greg Rousseau ($20M), Trey Hendrickson ($21M), and Josh Hines-Allen ($23.5M) in that range, while elite names like Nick Bosa ($35M) and Myles Garrett ($30M) sit higher. Spotrac projects Bonitto could command a four-year, $102.1 million deal—$25.5 million annually—making him the third-highest-paid edge rusher. Earlier projections, like a January 8, 2025, X post by
@_MLFootball, pegged a four-year, $75 million deal, but his market has since soared.
Broncos GM George Paton has called Bonitto’s extension a “priority,” but no talks had started as of January 15, 2025, per
@ZacStevensDNVR. Denver faces a gamble: lock him in now or risk his price spiking further. “If he replicates that [13.5 sacks], you’re paying more,” DNVR’s Ryan Koenigsberg said on March 5, 2025. But if Bonitto regresses to his 2023 form (8.0 sacks), a $23M deal could sting, especially given his run-defense limitations. “He’s not stout enough defending the run,” noted X user
@JmoneysteckNFL, suggesting Denver’s edge room, with Cooper and Jonah Elliss, might afford waiting.
Broncos legends like Trevor Pryce aren’t hesitating. “Sign him right now because the price is just going to go up,” Pryce told The Denver Gazette. “What are you waiting for? Him to get 17 sacks?” With $54.67 million in projected 2025 cap space—freed partly by escaping Russell Wilson’s $85 million dead cap hit—Denver has room to act. Paton’s track record of extending homegrown stars like Patrick Surtain II and Cooper bolsters confidence.
Bonitto’s Fit in Denver’s Defense
Bonitto’s value lies in his fit within Vance Joseph’s aggressive 3-4 scheme. His 4.54-second 40-yard dash speed and “freak” athleticism, as teammate Zach Allen called it, make him a nightmare off the edge. He started all 17 games in 2024, a leap from his backup role behind Randy Gregory in 2022-23. His ability to finish—13.5 sacks on 54 pressures—sets him apart. “He finishes really well,” said Broncos great Karl Mecklenburg. “That’s the one thing that’s hard to do.”
Opposite Cooper, who signed a four-year, $54 million extension in 2024, Bonitto forms half of a dynamic edge duo. Denver’s depth, with Elliss and Dondrea Tillman, is solid, but losing Bonitto to free agency in 2026 would gut the unit. His two defensive touchdowns, including a game-sealing fumble return against Indianapolis, highlight his knack for big plays. While run defense remains a weakness—opponents targeted him late in 2024—his pass-rush dominance outweighs concerns for a team built to pressure quarterbacks.
Impact on the Broncos’ Future
Securing Bonitto long-term locks in a cornerstone for Denver’s defense, which carried the team to its first playoff berth in nearly a decade. With Bo Nix on a cost-controlled rookie deal through 2026, the Broncos can afford to pay Bonitto and address needs at running back and inside linebacker. A franchise tag in 2026 is an option, but as Pryce noted, “You sign him now” to avoid a bidding war. Bonitto’s desire to stay—“I want to remain long term with the Broncos,” he told The Denver Gazette—sweetens the deal.
His extension would signal Denver’s commitment to building around young, homegrown talent. At 25, Bonitto’s ceiling is sky-high. If he nears Von Miller’s franchise-record 110.5 sacks or Simon Fletcher’s 97.5, his $20M-plus ask could look like a bargain. “He’s just scratching the surface,” Bonitto posted on X on March 23, 2025, alongside a highlight reel. Fans on X agree, with
@jasrifootball calling him a “star” and
@ProFootballTalk noting ongoing talks.
Why Broncos Country Should Be Pumped
Nik Bonitto’s contract push isn’t just about dollars—it’s about cementing a defensive identity. His 13.5 sacks, Pro Bowl nod, and All-Pro honors prove he’s no flash in the pan. With Paton prioritizing a deal and cap space to spare, Denver is poised to keep its sack king. Imagine Bonitto and Cooper terrorizing AFC West QBs like Patrick Mahomes for years, with Nix fueling the offense. That’s the vision.
As rookie minicamp kicks off, Broncos Country should rally behind Bonitto. His speed, swagger, and playmaking echo the greats who’ve worn orange and blue. A $20M-plus deal isn’t just a reward—it’s an investment in a pass rusher who could etch his name in Denver lore. Get ready for more “CASA BONITTO” chants—the best is yet to come.
