Denver Broncos general manager George Paton lauded new Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto after picking him 64th overall in April’s NFL draft last month.
“We didn’t anticipate [Bonitto] being there [at 64th overall], so we’re really fortunate,” said Paton on April 29th. “We thought Nik was one of the better pass rushers coming out. The bend, the speed, the burst– very natural.”
At Oklahoma, Bonitto finished his career with 33 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. This type of disruption and production will certainly assist defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s planned 3-4 scheme.
One other trait that Bonitto should be noted for is his durability. Bonitto played in at least 10 games in three of his four seasons as a Sooner, including bowl games, a trait that the Broncos look to capitalize on as the season approaches.
During the past few NFL seasons, Denver has seen its linebacking corps depleted with injuries to Bradley Chubb, Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell at various times.
“[Bonitto] will add to our [linebacker] group,” Paton said. “We’ll have a very good wave with Nik, and I think it’s going to be really good competition.”