Nik Bonitto is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL

Jan 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) strip sacks Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Trey Lance (5) in the third fourth at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images The Denver Broncos drafted N

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What is the story about?

The Denver Broncos drafted Nik Bonitto with the 64th pick in the 2022 draft. Since then he has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Of the players drafted with him in 2022, only Aidan Hutchinson (the 2nd overall pick) has more sacks with 43.0. Bonitto has 37.0. However, sacks are not the best measure of the ability of an NFL pass rusher, pressures are. According to SISdatahub.com Nik Bonitto has the 11th best pressure rate among players with 400 or more pass rushes since he entered the league

in 2022.

Nik has a pressure rate of 15.62%, meaning that he has gotten 186 pressures on 1191 pass rush snaps during his four year NFL career. Jonathan Cooper is 41st with a pressure rate of 12.85%. Zach Allen is 95th at 10.80%. The Broncos got him at the start of the 2023. Allen is one of the three pass rushers with 200 or more pass rushes over the last four seasons. He has 2037. Only Maxx Crosby (2127), and Danielle Hunter (2061) have more. Aidan Hutchinson would have more than 2000 if he weren’t injured in 2024 when he missed most of the season.

Nik’s sack rate of 3.11% is 4th best. Only Myles Garrett (3.65%), Trey Hendrickson (3.28%), and Frankie Luvu (3.27%) have better sack rates. Micah Parsons, who has the best pressure rate, is 5th with a sack rate of 3.05%.

Looking at the top 20 in sack rate over the last four seasons, we also find a former Bronco, Von Miller, on the list.

It’s interesting that some of the guys with really high sack rates (min 400 pass rushes) have relatively low pressure rates (less than 12%).

In terms of cap hit for the 2026 season, Nik has a cap hit of $8.4MM which is 42nd among edge rushers. Oddly enough it is less than Baron Browning, who has a cap hit of $9.4MM for the Cardinals next season. TJ Watt has the highest hit at 42 million for next season. Signing Nik to his deal when the front office did was very smart. Admittedly, Nik’s deal goes up every near after 2026.