Grading the Denver Broncos selection of Nik Bonitto in 2022 NFL Draft
The Denver Broncos have used their top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Nik Bonitto. We break down the potential impact of the pick and give it a grade.
The Denver Broncos have finally made a selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. With the 64th overall pick, the Broncos have selected speedy edge rusher Nik Bonitto out of Oklahoma.
In case you haven’t read any mock drafts in the last few weeks, a lot of people had this one pegged based on the Broncos’ needs as well as where Bonitto could slot in this year’s class.
After rumor upon rumor the Denver Broncos could move up to draft someone, they stayed put with the 64th pick and got their target off the edge.
Grading the Denver Broncos’ selection of Nik Bonitto
We know that Nik Bonitto fits one of the primary critera Denver Broncos general manager George Paton prioritizes in the NFL Draft and ultimately with every addition — he’s a freakish athlete.
Nik Bonitto is a DE prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.31 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 98 out of 1413 DE from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/DTWjky1EkW #RAS pic.twitter.com/mMdPzgUf4s
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 17, 2022
Bonitto brings outstanding burst off the edge and while Von Miller comparisons are extremely overblown, it’s easy to look at Bonitto’s size and athletic profile and see some similarities.
Bonitto has a long way to go as a pure edge player before he reaches Miller’s status, but that 1.53 second 10-yard split is faster than Von Miller’s coming out of Texas A&M by almost a tenth of a second.
That’s not a small detail.
The Denver Broncos understand they need to be deeper in the pass rush department. They have significantly raised the floor of that room at this point and now have the opportunity to rotate guys or sustain an in-season injury to one of their top guys.
Nobody wants to see that happen, but unfortunately, it sometimes does.
Bonitto with his athleticism can be a weapon right away for the Denver Broncos’ defense which likely already has its established 11 starters.
Although there were other players on the board that may have been more highly ranked by the consensus, there’s no question that he fills an area of “need” for the Broncos in terms of addressing pass rush depth. He’s also an incredible athlete with big-time potential.
He’s not a finished product yet, but he doesn’t have to be. The Broncos will gladly welcome his best trick in the short and long term — he can rush the QB.
Grade: B+