Nik Bonitto voted a top-10 edge rusher in the NFL for the first time

Denver Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto had highly productive 2024 and 2025 seasons.

And the rest of the NFL is finally starting to take notice.

For the first time in his career, Bonitto was voted a top-10 edge in the league on Wednesday. ESPN revealed its list based on a survey of league executives, coaches and scouts. Pat Surtain II was the No. 1 cornerback on Tuesday and now Bonitto joins him, earning the No. 10 overall spot at edge rusher.

He was the only guy to make his top-10 debut at edge, as Jeremy Fowler noted that Bonitto won a close race with Cleveland’s Jared Verse for the final spot.

“He’s got maybe the best get-off in the league,” a high-ranking personnel evaluator with an NFL team told Fowler. “Serious closing speed. He’s on the quarterback as soon as the ball’s snapped. Good spin move and excellent lower-body flexibility.”

That get-off speed allowed to Nik Bonitto to register 14 sacks last season after putting up 13.5 the year before. He was in the conversation for NFL Defensive Player of the year before fading down the stretch. The Broncos will need that high production from Bonitto throughout the regular season and playoffs in 2026 and into 2027.

No. 1 on the list was Myles Garrett who was traded to the Rams from the Browns in a blockbuster earlier this summer. Micah Parsons, Will Anderson Jr., Maxx Crosby and Aidan Hutchinson rounded out the top-5.

It’s a position with a lot of stars across the league, so it’s nice to see Nik Bonitto get recognized in that company.

To see the full top-10, click here.

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