Nik Bonitto really emerged on the scene in his third season in 2024, with 13.5 sacks, a pick six, another touchdown that for all intents and purposes is another pick six–contributing to his first Pro Bowl and 2nd team All-Pro honors. This is an excellent foundation for him to work on securing the bag as soon as this year, and certainly no later than next year.
Notable gaps among the high tiers at edge rusher
By APY, there are four very distinct tiers among the top paid edge rushers in the league, as follows:
| Player | APY | Full Guarantees | New Money Running Cash Flow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |||
| Tier 1 | ||||||
| T.J. Watt | $41,000,000 | $108,000,000 | $54,950,000 | $86,950,000 | $123,000,000 | |
| Myles Garrett | $40,000,000 | $88,800,000 | $55,203,875 | $80,000,000 | $120,000,000 | $160,000,000 |
| Tier 2 | ||||||
| Maxx Crosby | $35,500,000 | $62,500,000 | $51,006,000 | $78,288,000 | $106,500,000 | |
| Nick Bosa | $34,000,000 | $88,000,000 | $48,955,471 | $79,641,000 | $102,821,000 | $136,000,000 |
| Tier 3 | ||||||
| Josh Hines-Allen | $28,250,000 | $76,500,000 | $35,000,000 | $68,000,000 | $91,000,000 | $115,750,000 |
| Danielle Hunter* | $28,200,000 | $63,100,000 | $29,500,000 | $61,500,000 | $84,600,000 | |
| Brian Burns | $28,200,000 | $76,000,000 | $43,500,000 | $66,250,000 | $90,000,000 | $115,500,000 |
| Tier 4 | ||||||
| Montez Sweat | $24,500,000 | $41,965,000 | $35,000,000 | $56,000,000 | $77,000,000 | $98,000,000 |
| Rashan Gary | $24,000,000 | $34,636,928 | $37,000,000 | $54,000,000 | $73,500,000 | $96,000,000 |
| George Karlaftis | $23,250,000 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
It’s clear that Bonitto isn’t in the “highest paid non-quarterback in the league territory” that Watt and Garrett are in. Nor do I think that he can yet seriously compete with Bosa and Crosby within Tier 2. However, I also think it’s clear that Bonitto has demonstrated enough to get a contract above Tier 4, particularly with the extension that the Chiefs just handed out to Karlaftis coming on the books.
Thus, between the upper gap between Tiers 2 and 3, and the lower gap between Tiers 3 and 4, stands a vast range of negotiation space. How should it be determined as to which gap Bonitto should fall under? A handy way to answer that question is to whether or not the Broncos would be willing to use the franchise tag on Bonitto if an extension isn’t agreed to by next March. That is projected to be around a little under $28 million for 2026 for Bonitto, who is considered a linebacker under the antiquated positions the CBA uses. That amount is right within range of Tier 3.
Given this, it’s pretty easy just to split the differences down the middle between either Tier 2 & 3, or Tier 3 & 4, that hinges on that willingness to use the franchise tag on Bonitto.
An above franchise tag contract
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | 2026 Option Bonus | 2027 Option Bonus | 2028 Option Bonus* | Per Game Roster Bonus | New Cash Paid | Running Cash Flow | Cap Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,346,000 | $6,349,889 | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | $11,695,889 | ||||
| 2026 | $1,215,000 | $6,000,000 | $2,957,000 | $16,000,000 | $46,000,000 | $10,172,000 | |||
| 2027 | $1,260,000 | $6,000,000 | $2,957,000 | $5,348,000 | $28,000,000 | $74,000,000 | $15,565,000 | ||
| 2028 | $12,490,000 | $6,000,000 | $2,957,000 | $5,348,000 | $2,000,000 | $510,000 | $13,000,000 | $97,000,000 | $29,305,000 |
| 2029 | $22,490,000 | $6,000,000 | $2,957,000 | $5,348,000 | $2,000,000 | $510,000 | $23,000,000 | $120,000,000 | $39,305,000 |
| 2030 | Void | $2,957,000 | $5,348,000 | $2,000,000 | $19,653,000 | ||||
| 2031 | Void | $5,348,000 | $2,000,000 | ||||||
| 2032 | Void | $2,000,000 |
italics – fully guaranteed
* – vesting guarantee in March 2027
This is a four year, $120 million contract with $74 million in new money fully guaranteed via a $30 million signing bonus, and option bonuses plus minimum base salaries of $16 million and $28 million in 2026 and 2027. In March of 2027, an additional option bonus of $10 million due in 2028 would vest to guaranteed money. Add in his old money in his salary for 2025, and his agent can choose to advertise the contract containing “more than $88 million guaranteed”.
This structure would give the Broncos great incentive to keep Bonitto on the roster for 2028, as cutting him to avoid the 2028 option bonus from vesting would necessitate a June 1 designation with $14.305 million in dead cap dollars in 2027, and a whopping $42.263 million in 2028. Void years would leave behind almost $20 million in dead cap dollars unless he was extended again.
The Broncos have been increasingly consistent in demanding per game roster bonuses of $30,000 for each game in seasons where there is any non-guaranteed salary. It appears in such contracts as Patrick Surtain II, Quinn Meinerz, Ben Powers, and Mike McGlinchey, thus it is also added here.
A below franchise tag contract
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | 2026 Option Bonus | 2027 Option Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | New Cash Paid | Running Cash Flow | Cap Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,346,000 | $4,349,889 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $9,695,889 | |||
| 2026 | $1,215,000 | $4,000,000 | $3,357,000 | $18,000,000 | $38,000,000 | $8,572,000 | ||
| 2027 | $1,260,000 | $4,000,000 | $3,357,000 | $3,948,000 | $21,000,000 | $59,000,000 | $12,565,000 | |
| 2028 | $21,000,000* | $4,000,000 | $3,357,000 | $3,948,000 | $510,000 | $21,510,000 | $80,510,000 | $32,815,000 |
| 2029 | $20,980,000 | $4,000,000 | $3,357,000 | $3,948,000 | $510,000 | $21,490,000 | $102,000,000 | $32,795,000 |
| 2030 | Void | $3,357,000 | $3,948,000 | $11,253,000 | ||||
| 2031 | Void | $3,948,000 |
italics – fully guaranteed
* – vesting guarantee in March 2027
This, meanwhile, is a four year contract coming in at $102 million overall, with the full guarantees at $59 million, via a $20 million signing bonus, and option bonuses plus minimum base salaries of $18 million and $21 million in 2026 and 2027. A third option bonus is not utilized here; the vesting guarantee is just a simple base salary of $21 million.
Should the Broncos cut Bonitto before 2027 here, this limits their dead cap dollar liabilities on a June 1 designation to $12.585 million in 2027, and $33.863 million in 2028.
Whither the edge rusher depth?
The Broncos have been relentless in ensuring that positions of high importance that need great depth are being addressed, and edge rusher is no exception. Jonathan Cooper is already extended as a starter with Bonitto currently across from him. Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman are promising young players entering their second seasons, and the Broncos struck yet again in the 2025 rookie class by drafting Que Robinson in the 4th round.
Observing how those young players progress in this season’s training camp will provide some key information as to how to proceed in negotiations with Bonitto, particularly if he is resistant to accepting an APY below the estimated franchise tag amount. The Broncos should also be gauging what Bonitto wants to prioritize in his next contract among cash and guarantee structures. The contracts above split the gaps down the middle in all metrics, but they can of course be tweaked to meet the priorities of either side.