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Bonitto's Explosive Rise to NFL's Pass Rush Elite
11 Jul
Summary
- Nik Bonitto ranked 10th among NFL pass rushers by ESPN experts.
- Bonitto achieved a career-high 14 sacks in the 2025 season.
- He signed a four-year, $106 million contract extension before the 2025 season.
Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto is now recognized among the NFL's premier talents, securing the 10th position on ESPN's expert-ranked list of top pass rushers for the upcoming 2026 season. This marks a significant leap from his rookie year, where he recorded only 1.5 sacks. Bonitto's resurgence was dramatic, accumulating 35.5 sacks since 2023 and achieving a career-best 14 sacks in the 2025 season, placing him fifth in the league.
His outstanding performance in 2025 led to a substantial four-year, $106 million contract extension. Bonitto spearheaded the Broncos' pass-rushing efforts, contributing to the team's franchise-record 68 sacks last fall, though they narrowly missed the all-time single-season record. Looking ahead to 2026, defensive lineman Zach Allen anticipates the Broncos could even break the league's all-time single-season sack record.
