"The Broncos have sacked opposing signal-callers 40 times, 12 more than the next-best team, putting them on pace to break the NFL's single-season record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears. Nik Bonitto, a fourth-year edge rusher, leads Denver with eight sacks. And the 2024 second-team All-Pro is one of the league's most dynamic rushers and the leader of the NFL's best pass rush because, more often than not, he wins the first step."
""That's how you come off the ball, he's first over and over again," Washington Commanders edge rusher and Broncos franchise sacks leader Von Miller said of Bonitto. "All those guys [Jonathon] Cooper, Zach Allen ... they have the get-off. They win the first step. But Nik Bonitto, he may not even know why he is so good yet because he's young. But it's good.""
"His teammates know it, too. Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey said, "I'll tell you right now the guy across the locker room [Bonitto] has one of the best [first steps] I've ever seen, and then he has elite quickness after it. He's speed-to-speed; that's rare.""
Nine weeks into the 2025 season the Denver Broncos lead the NFL in hitting quarterbacks and have 40 sacks, 12 more than the next-best team and on pace to challenge the single-season record. Fourth-year edge rusher Nik Bonitto leads Denver with eight sacks and is noted for an ultraquick first step that repeatedly wins rushes. Teammates and peers, including Von Miller and Mike McGlinchey, praise Bonitto's get-off and quickness. Bonitto is in Defensive Player of the Year consideration and aims to surpass his 13.5-sack total from last season as the 7-2 Broncos prepare to host the Raiders.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]