PFR identified Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto as an extension candidate back in December, and three weeks later we saw reports that the team had interest. In May, it was reported that talks had begun with some anticipation of things heating up coming late last month. In the wake of his fellow 2022 NFL draftee George Karlaftis getting a four year, $88MM extension today, Bonitto gave reporters some insight on his own extension talks. 
In an interview with Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, Bonitto responded to a question concerning the timing of when an extension may occur. “No time period,” Bonitto said. “I know these things can happen tomorrow or happen months from now. I kind of just keep it day by day and keep the focus on football.”
Karlaftis’ new deal puts him at 10th in the NFL in terms of average annual value. He hasn’t been a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but he’s been the top sack-getter on a Super Bowl team for the past two years, topping out at 10.5 in 2023 and 24.5 for his career. Bonitto’s output has been a bit different.
Playing behind Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, and Bradley Chubb in his rookie season, Bonitto became a bigger part of the pass rush once Chubb was traded to Miami midway through the season, though he was still coming off the bench. With only one start in 15 games, Bonitto only tallied 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits as a rookie. In Year 2, Bonitto benefitted from an early-season absence from Browning. With four starts in 15 games, Bonitto delivered a much-improved eight-sack performance with 13 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits.
2024 was the breakout season for Bonitto, though. Another early-season injury to Browning opened the door for Bonitto to work as a full-time starter, and when all was said and done, Browning was traded to Arizona, while Bonitto started the remainder of the season. On a defense that finished seventh in yards allowed, third in points allowed, and led the NFL in sacks, Bonitto has the leading sack-getter, logging 13.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 24 quarterback hits, not to mention two forced fumbles, four pass deflections, and a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown.
With Bonitto’s clear upwards progression season after season, the Broncos would do well to lock him down for Karlaftis-esque numbers before he adds another 5.5 sacks to his prior year total and costs himself out of Denver. And they may do just that. Some have speculated, though, that Bonitto’s extension may come in a similar fashion as did Cooper’s last year. Cooper signed his four-year, $60MM deal in November, showing that Denver had no objections to working towards big deals midseason.
Based on Bonitto’s quote, he’s seeing the same things we are. Like Karlaftis’ deal, Bonitto offers that an extension could “happen tomorrow.” Or like Cooper’s deal, an extension could “happen months from now.”