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Broncos want to extend Nik Bonitto -- how much will it cost?
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- Broncos want to extend Nik Bonitto -- how much will it cost?
The Denver Broncos are currently focused on signing free agents with expiring contracts -- both from other teams and their own in-house free agents.
After the free agency frenzy dies down, Denver's attention should turn toward extensions for players that are currently headed for free agency in 2026. Perhaps most notable among those players is pass rusher Nik Bonitto , who is coming off a breakout season in 2024.
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"It's a priority," Broncos general manager George Paton said when asked at the NFL combine if extending Bonitto is a priority. "You've kind of seen our model. The young player draft and develop. Even guys like [Garett] Bolles. We like to take care of our own, so we'll just see. Nik obviously had a breakout year. He's a dynamic player, and we want him here a long time."
So, how much will it cost?
Last week, DNVR's Zac Stevens tweeted that "it's believed negotiations for Bonitto's extension will start at $23 million per season," citing sources around the NFL.
That sounds like a bargain after the Cleveland Browns agreed to give Myles Garrett $40 million per year just before free agency began. Bonitto is not a Garrett-level player, but "only" $23 million would rank 10th among the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers .
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Spotrac.com has estimated Bonitto has a market value of $25.5 million , which would rank seventh. After totaling 13.5 sacks and scoring two defensive touchdowns last fall, Bonitto will likely want to crack the top ten in terms of average yearly salary.
Stay tuned. It could still be weeks or even months away, but the Broncos aim to extend Bonitto well beyond the 2025 season. The only questions are when, and how much?
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL free agency: How much will Nik Bonitto extension cost the Broncos?
