Experts react to Nik Bonitto pick by the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos decide to bolster the pass rush of the defense with the addition of Nik Bonitto as the 64th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Nik Bonitto was a three-year starter at the University of Oklahoma as an elite defender with pure speed as a pass rusher.
He will join the Denver Broncos in a new unit minus Von Miller who is now in Buffalo. Bonitto brings versatility as an edge threat and off-ball linebacker. There is a lot of athleticism with Bonitto and traits that you bet on.
He is certainly not a perfect prospect but he brings a ton of upside to a group needing depth.
Bonito brings the Broncos the opportunity to learn from both Randy Gregory and Bradley Chubb who are the set starters. We mentioned the versatility of Bonitto, which gives Denver two weapons possibly on the front seven in Baron Browning and Bonitto.
Both truly offer amazing athleticism to the defense. Bonitto has ridiculous get-off on the line of scrimmage. There were not many players in the 2022 NFL Draft who had a bigger win rate as a pass rusher.
The production may not have been ideal for 2021, but Bonitto still won the 2021 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. At the University of Oklahoma, Bonitto became a Second-Team All-American in 2020 and Third-Team All American in 2021.
In two straight seasons with the Sooners, the defender became Second Team All-Big 12 in 2020 and 2021. A clarification for Broncos fans and draft gurus, sacks are still a glorified stat.
That said, in his entire Oklahoma career Bonitto never accumulated 10+ sacks on a season. It still is about the potential and no player has arguably the best first step in this class as an edge rusher.
If you give this defense a player of this caliber and one Ejiro Evero would love to have. Evero said he would bring multiple players as pass rushers. If he is not bringing four, he will bring five, if he is not bringing five he will bring six.
What are the experts saying about this Nik Bonitto pick? Let’s find out.
Nik Bonitto was a Top 5 edge for me.
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 30, 2022
Great in space defender and a natural pass rusher with a quick first step and great bend. Gives him Micah Parsons lite versatility.
Can’t wait to see him on that front with Bradley Chubb & Randy Gregory. Great pick @Broncos
According to @PFF, new Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto had the highest pass rush win rate in the country in 2020.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) April 30, 2022
Nik Bonitto says that among the NFL players he’s looked up to are Von Miller and Shaq Barrett.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) April 30, 2022
OLB Nik Bonitto was a three-year starter at Oklahoma.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) April 30, 2022
Career stats (39 games):
117 tackles, 32 TFL, 18,5 sacks, 24 QB hurries, one FF, three FR.
Was named PFF's Big 12 DPOY in 2021. Former second-team All-American, as well.
The Denver Broncos still have multiple picks left on day two. The direction of where they go is unknown. Stay tuned to Predominantly Orange to find out who the Broncos select next in Vegas.