Mile High Report
After helping the Denver Broncos lead the league in sacks in 2024, the team’s group of edge rushers could be even better this coming season.
The Denver Broncos led the National Football League with a franchise-best 63 sacks in 2024. For the 2025 season, fans are optimistic that the team can achieve a similar performance as last year in the pass rushing department.
A big reason for their prowess getting after the quarterback was due to their group of edge rushers. Both Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper had career years. The starting edge duo combined for 24 sacks last season. It the first time two edge rushers secured double digits for the Broncos since 2018.
As is the case with many other positions, the Broncos are bringing back their top edge rushers from their ‘24 campaign. That continuity will bode well for them in ‘25, but even better—the team did add some talent and depth to the position via the NFL Draft and undrafted free agency.
How good can Denver’s corps of edge rushers be this coming season? Let’s discuss.
Nik Bonitto — Premier Pass Rushing Starter
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, fourth-year edge rusher Nik Bonitto is coming off the best season of his career. Bonitto experienced a catastrophic leap in development and production last season and helped propel the defense to being one of the best in the NFL.
He notched career highs in multiple categories with 48 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits and a couple of defensive touchdowns. His playmaking ability helped turn the tide in several Broncos games last season. For his efforts, he was an All-Pro and Pro-Bowl player. The former Oklahoma Sooners’ standout even came in ninth in the Defensive Player of the Year Voting.
His top-tier athleticism and supreme get-off at the line of scrimmage make it tough for opposing offensive tackles. Without question, he is a premier pass rushing threat. However, he still has some work to do relative to setting the edge and defending the run. Can he become an overall elite player in ‘25? That’s one of the biggest storylines to watch.
Nevertheless, his ability to generate sacks, pressures, and even make plays in coverage make him on of the league’s rising stars at the position. At some point in time in the future, Bonitto will be one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the league.
Jonathon Cooper — The Steady Veteran Starter
A seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jonathon Cooper has been one of the most pleasant Day 3 draft surprises for the franchise in recent memory.
Over the course of his rookie contract, Cooper has appeared in 64 games with 48 starts for the Broncos. The past two seasons, he has been a seventeen-game starter and played quite well with a significant increase in snaps. Last offseason, the Broncos awarded Cooper with a multi-year deal to keep him in the...
