Broncos, OLB Nik Bonitto agree on four-year, $106 million contract extension

Nik Bonitto s meteoric rise has turned him into a very wealthy man The Broncos outside linebacker on Thursday finalized a four-year contract extension worth up million his agency Athletes First informed on social media The deal is worth up to million total and comes with million in guarantees multiple sources reported The Post on Thursday morning The agreement makes Bonitto the highest-paid non-quarterback in Broncos history moving him past teammate Zach Allen who signed a four-year million extension last month Bonitto was entering the final year of his rookie contract By adding four years to his deal he is now tied to the Broncos through the season The base value of the deal puts Bonitto s average annual salary at million average per year below the very top tier but into the top at the position league-wide His million guaranteed is seventh among outside linebackers A Bonitto extension seemed only a matter of time after star pass-rusher Micah Parsons blew the doors off the edge-rusher sphere signing a four-year deal worth million million a year following a seismic contract to the Green Bay Packers In both July and August Bonitto noted the domain was trending in his favor and both the Broncos and Bonitto made it known publicly they craved an extension I feel like they ve pretty much through the whole process kept me a priority knowing they want to extend me they want me here Bonitto reported in August It s just about when they want to get it done and when we re ready The Parsons deal upped the average annual value of top-five edge rusher deals to million a year aided by monster offseason extensions for the Steelers T J Watt Browns Myles Garrett and Raiders Maxx Crosby That explosion at the top end of the edge realm has driven the No mark before Bonitto s deal up in the last year alone The top- mark moved up a more modest over the past year but Bonitto pushed that higher by checking in at No among edge rushers It s a far cry from where he began in Denver the highest pick in the Broncos draft class Bonitto got off to a modest start logging sacks and seeing sporadic playing time in the second half of his rookie year as the season fell apart and coach Nathaniel Hackett got fired He began to show signs in his first year under now-defensive coordinator Vance Joseph logging sacks in and showing he could be trusted to stay on the field more frequently Bonitto a Fort Lauderdale Florida native really took off in however He didn t even start the year off as a starter finding himself behind Jonathon Cooper and Baron Browning By Week however he was on to the top line From there he totaled sacks and became one of the majority of recognized young pass rushers in the sport Related Articles Evan Engram wants to be one of the best tight ends that ever lived He came to Broncos to chase it Jahdae Barron has long planned for stardom from paper routes to Broncos first-round pick Dre Greenlaw misses another practice as Broncos try to keep linebacker healthy for long haul Broncos ninth-year DT D J Jones voted captain for first time He deserves it Broncos QB and two-time captain Bo Nix I hate letting the organization down Last year at this time did we think Nik Bonitto would be an All-Pro athlete general manager George Paton commented at owner s meetings in March I don t think anyone would have revealed that The Broncos felt good enough about his performance that they traded Browning midseason extended Cooper and set the stage for the pair to be anchors off the edge for Denver for years to come Denver s now committed over million in future money across offseason extensions for Bonitto Allen and Courtland Sutton three pillars of the Broncos new turnaround And Bonitto now has the cash to back up his breakout the organization and Bonitto himself expecting plenty more from the fourth-year edge I know there was plays I missed out on that I could even had more sacks on Bonitto narrated The Post in late July So that kinda stuff just gives me more fuel to be better Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis