Report: Denver Broncos, Nik Bonitto agree to four-year, $120 million contract extension

Nik Bonitto is just three years into his professional career with the Denver Broncos. The franchise has already seen enough, though, to make him one of their highest-paid players in history.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bonitto has agreed to a four-year extension worth $120 million, $70 million of that being guaranteed money, with the Broncos. That makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback ever for Denver.

“Another deal in Denver: Nik Bonitto and the Broncos reached agreement today on a four-year extension worth up to $120 million, including $70 million guaranteed. Bonitto is now the highest paid non-QB in Broncos’ franchise history in a deal negotiated by @ToryDandy of @athletesfirst,” Schefter tweeted on Thursday morning.

Through three seasons in Mile High, Bonitto has posted 92 tackles, 30 being for loss, with 23 sacks, six deflections, four forced fumbles with a recovery that went for a touchdown, and an interception that also went for a score. He’s then coming off a career-best campaign in year three, having 48 tackles, 16 of those being for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Bonitto also had four deflections, two forced fumbles, and both of his defensive scores as part of a top-five unit on defense last year. That earned him a nod as a Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro by the Associated Press, while he was also tied for ninth in the voting for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Three years ago, Denver took Bonitto as a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Broncos chose him out of Oklahoma after a productive, four-year career with the Sooners.

As noted by Schefter, the Broncos have now done a few of these big-time extensions this offseason. They also signed Zach Allen to a four-year, $102 million extension last month at the start of August, as well as Courtland Sutton to a four-year, $92 million extension a few days before that at the end of July.

Denver is investing going into its third year under Sean Payton and second with Bo Nix, having had two of their better seasons in a decade, including last year’s record at 10-7, in returning to the NFL Playoffs. Bonitto is now part of that as the Broncos have him locked down at a franchise-record figure on this extension.