Broncos select edge rusher Nik Bonitto in 2nd round of NFL draft

The Broncos selected Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft on Friday evening.

[mm-video type=video id=01g1w1nsb41yvyp4v9fq playlist_id=01eqbw4jm5c2wscg4g player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g1w1nsb41yvyp4v9fq/01g1w1nsb41yvyp4v9fq-4b113c96e00d5191321e0d8762ff1924.jpg]

The Denver Broncos selected Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft on Friday evening (64th overall).

Bonitto (6-3, 248 pounds) had a productive past two seasons with the Sooners, accumulating 39 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, he had 16 sacks in 21 games. Bonitto won PFF’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.

Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma defensive lineman Nik Bonitto Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bonitto ran a 4.54 40-yard dash in at the combine earlier this offseason. He was ranked number 47 overall on DraftWire’s top 300 prospects. 

DraftWire’s  Natalie Miller said that Bonitto is a fast presence off the edge, and more like a “lightning rod” attacking the quarterback.

Bonitto becomes the first player selected from the Sooners in 2022’s NFL draft.

In Denver, Bonitto is poised to become a very nice compliment alongside the tandem of Bradley Chubb and free-agent addition Randy Gregory.