Horse Tracks: Can Bonitto-Cooper be the No. 1 pass-rush duo in the NFL this season?

Of course they can. And one sportswriter predicts they will be.

Good morning, Broncos Country!

When you play in the AFC West, survival depends on either a franchise quarterback or a dominant pass-rush.

Or both.

And thankfully, the Broncos are inching toward each as quarterback Bo Nix is showing no signs of a sophomore slump, and the menacing pass-rush combo of Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper looks like it should only get better after its dominating 2024.

After leading the league in sacks last year, Denver’s defense is showing no signs of slowing down.

In fact, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder believes the Bonitto-Cooper combo will be the No. 1 pass rush tandem in the league this season in part because of how young it is.

“Granted, this duo has the least amount of combined sacks within the top five (46.5), yet it is listed as the No. 1 pair. That’s because they also have the least amount of experience (seven seasons) and the most room for growth, as their potential moving forward is through the roof.”

In 2024, Bonitto logged 13.5 sacks while Cooper added 10.5, for a combined 24 in a year the Broncos notched 63 in total to lead the NFL.

“So, there is some projection here, but betting a couple of young pass-rushers who have improved their production every year to date feels like a good gamble.”

But the beauty is that the Broncos have one of the best interior pass-rush combos in Zach Allen (25 sacks, six seasons) and John Franklin-Myers (26.5 sack, six seasons) — not to mention Jonah Elliss who sacked a QB five times as a rookie last year and will be looking for a big follow-up this year.

As Holder noted, Denver will expect to “be in opposing quarterbacks’ faces” quite a bit this season.

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