Mile High Report
Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto had a tremendous 2024 season with the Denver Broncos. What can Broncos Country expect from the fourth-year pro in 2025?
The Denver Broncos put together a franchise best 63 sacks in 2024. Their pass rush was the most ferocious in the National Football League. Also, one of the primary reasons the franchise found its way back into the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph and his players deserve praise for their efforts. All the key players that made last year’s defensive front seven incredible are slated to return. Not only that, but the Broncos added a few more players in the draft to help as well. With that in mind, their penchant for getting after the quarterback should continue this coming season.
Entering his fourth year, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto will be a factor in that. Bonitto is coming off an incredible 2024 season which helped ignite the team’s high-level of play defensively. He notched 13.5 sacks and a handful of game-changing plays that earned him Pro-Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. Overall, Bonitto was third in the NFL in sacks and tied for fifth in tackles for loss and quarterback hits.
He was undoubtedly one of the team’s most improved players after a breakout ‘24 campaign. Few questions surround his ability to make an impact on the field; the biggest comes down to whether or not the Broncos choose to extend him—and if so—at what cost? Let’s take a deeper dive into what to expect from the standout pass rusher in 2025.
Age: 25 | Experience: Fourth | College: Oklahoma | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 240 pounds
Arm Length: 32-1/2” | Hand Size: 9-3/8” | Broad: 10’ | Vertical: 35.5” | Bench: N/A
40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.07 seconds | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.23 seconds
The former Oklahoma Sooners standout has demonstrated steady improvement each year of his career to date. It’s safe to say General Manager George Paton hit an absolute home run selecting him with the 64th pick at the end of the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Bonitto’s prowess rushing the passer is undeniable. Without question, it is his number one calling card. His ability in that regard is dynamic and one of the most potent in the NFL. The athleticism he possesses can’t be taught and his burst off the snap is top-notch. The aforementioned routinely gives him the upper hand in one-on-one matchups against tackles who struggle with speed off the edge. Those are rare abilities.
However, I’m hoping to see improvement in setting the edge and better overall performance against the run in ‘25. Those are areas I think he needs to work on in order to become an overall elite defender. Though give his frame and lack of length, it might never be a huge strength of his. Though if he can take that next step, he will cement...
