Who's the Broncos' next Nik Bonitto? A look at 5 in-house breakout candidates in 2025

The Denver Broncos could make a handful of comfortable internal projections as the 2024 NFL season approached.

They believed cornerback Pat Surtain II would be one of the best players in football, a force multiplier who allowed defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to take calculated risks.

They were confident the teams veteran offensive line would be a strength in front of rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

They trusted that experienced players like Zach Allen, D.J.

Jones and Jonathon Cooper would consistently deliver disruptive performances along the defensive front.

By the time training camp ended, the Broncos also felt strongly that Nix, once he had a few pro starts to his credit, would pilot a more efficient offense than the one the Broncos had produced a year prior.

Advertisement All those elements came together for the Broncos last season, pillars for their first playoff appearance in nine years.

So were a few others that were harder to see coming.

Look at Nik Bonitto, general manager George Paton said last week as he addressed reporters at The Breakers resort, site of the NFLs annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

Last year at this time, did we think Nik Bonitto would be an All-Pro player? I dont think anyone would have said that.

Its a credit to Sean (Payton), its a credit to the staff how they develop these young players to take that next step.

They all grow at different areas.

Like we talked about, (when) Pat Surtain walked in the door, he was Pat Surtain, but a lot of these guys, some get it in the second year, some get it in the third year.

You cant be overly patient, but you just have to keep developing your young players.

This is the time of year in the NFL after free agency and just before the draft when much of the conversation centers around new players who are added to a team and how they change a teams outlook.

The Broncos filled big needs by adding proven veteran players in tight end Evan Engram, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga.

Theyll check another box at some point in this months draft by finding a running back who can be a more consistent presence as a rusher and receiver.

But the fate of Denvers stated goal of unseating the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West will also be decided by whether they can get the kind of leaps out of young players that they did last season.

The Broncos 10-win campaign was heavily boosted by previously overlooked young players who took massive steps in 2024.

A prime example was Bonitto, the outside linebacker who finished third in the NFL with 13.5 sacks.

As a rookie in 2022, Bonitto finished with just 1.5 sacks.

He had a big jump in production in 2023, finishing with eight takedowns, but he still wasnt stout enough against the run to consistently be an every-down player.

That changed last season, when Bonitto was stronger setting the edge in the run game and also returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns.

It was the kind of performance that could soon put him in line for a massive contract extension as he approaches the final year of his rookie deal.

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@nikkkkbonitto had the whole squad going crazy with that pick-6 pic.twitter.com/0YQlQGpCsG NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2024 Bonitto wasnt the only young Broncos player who made that kind of leap.

Riley Moss, after being limited to mostly special teams duty as a rookie in 2023, became the starter at cornerback opposite Surtain last season and helped the Broncos solidify the secondary.

Receiver Marvin Mims Jr., the second-round pick in 2023, found a more consistent offensive role toward the end of his second season, tallying 341 yards and five touchdowns across Denvers final five games.

Advertisement He took that next step, Paton said of Mims.

We used him a little differently than we had in the prior two years.

Hes just grown.

Hes grown as a pro.

You can see the confidence when he started getting touches and (when we) used him in different areas, he just took off.

I think it has to do with confidence, kind of the way we used him and the way we incorporated him in our offense.

So who will be the Broncos players in 2025 who make similar leaps? Lets take a closer look at a few breakout candidates: Bo Nix, quarterback Helping Nix take a jump after a standout rookie season for the Broncos has meant improving the roster around him.

Its why adding Engram became a top offseason priority as soon as the tight end was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on the eve of free agency.

Its helpful for the entire offense, Paton said of adding Engram.

It just opens up the middle of the field a little more.

Thats something that we lacked the explosive element ...

in the middle of the field.

As weve talked about, hes a mismatch-type player, so that only helps the quarterback.

Up next: giving Nix a better receiving option at running back.

The quarterback relied on Javonte Williams (now with the Cowboys), Jaleel McLaughlin and Denvers other backs as early down passing targets often last season, but the Broncos need those plays to be more efficient than they were in 2024.

If the Broncos can add that element to a roster that now includes Engram, Nix should have even more solutions for defenses that will certainly try to limit his impact as a rusher next season.

Nix across the final nine games of 2024 ranked fifth in the NFL in third-down efficiency and first in completion rate (68.5 percent).

Thats a pretty sturdy foundation from which to make a Year 2 leap, and the odds of that kind of improvement from Nix could increase depending on how the Broncos emerge from the draft.

Advertisement Jonah Elliss, outside linebacker The third-round pick out of Utah finished tied for third among NFL rookies in sacks last season (five) despite finishing 11th among that group in defensive pass-rush snaps (222), according to TruMedia.

Seven of his 38 tackles went for loss.

Hes given us good snaps, Payton said of Elliss late last season.

We felt on the college tape, a lot of times youll see one move: power, maybe speed.

We felt like saw a few different things and we saw athleticism.

Again, we kind of knew the background, the make-up.

...

It was the football make-up and the versatility, but also the player and the vision for what we saw him doing.

Elliss turned 22 last week and will head into this season stronger after a year in Denvers strength and conditioning program.

He already showed good instincts against the run last season, but another leap there could help him get on the field even more after playing 38 percent of defensive snaps as a rookie.

There is already precedent for Elliss jumpstarting his production after gaining experience and finding comfort in a defensive scheme.

Elliss had 12 sacks as a junior at Utah in 2023 after totaling just four in his first two seasons.

Another step forward for Elliss and Dondrea Tillman he also had five sacks in his first NFL season in 2024 could go a long way toward helping the Broncos approach their league-leading 63-sack outburst from last season.

Kris Abrams-Draine, cornerback When the Broncos wrapped up their offseason program last year, Paton said Abrams-Draine was the member of the teams draft class that had the most catching up to do.

The fifth-round pick quickly made up that ground.

When we got into training camp and he kept making plays, it just wasnt too big for him, Paton said.

You saw that when we played the Chargers on Thursday night and it wasnt too big for him.

He started making plays.

He has unique cover skills, really good instincts, and he doesnt get fazed.

Were really encouraged with him.

Advertisement The Broncos seemingly have their starting three cornerback positions set heading into the season outside corners Surtain and Moss and nickel JaQuan McMillian but Paton made it clear at the combine that Denver wants to create the same competitive environment at camp that served a young roster well heading into last season.

Even if Abrams-Draine doesnt become a starter early in the season, developing reliable depth behind those top three is a critical priority for the Broncos this offseason.

Abrams-Draine didnt make his rookie debut until early December last season, but he held his own in late-game relief of struggling veteran Levi Wallace during a 41-32 victory against the Cleveland Browns and had his first NFL interception two games later off Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Those late-season appearances should serve as a springboard into an important offseason for the 23-year-old who is hoping to become a more permanent fixture in Denvers defensive backfield.

Troy Franklin, wide receiver On 11 different occasions last season, Nix spotted Troy Franklin, his college teammate, at least 30 yards down the field and let it rip.

Nix and Franklin failed to connect on all 11 different occasions.

Then, on the first drive of the first NFL playoff game for both players, they connected on a 43-yard touchdown pass that gave the Broncos a short-lived lead.

Troy and I, weve just been saving that for the playoffs, Nix mused afterward.

BO TO FRANKLIN FOR SIX! : #DENvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+ : Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/NlPLNlHQI8 NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025 Franklin had more deep targets from Nix during the regular season and playoffs last year 20 of 20 or more air yards than every Broncos player besides Courtland Sutton (29).

The rookies ability to win routes at the line of scrimmage gave him at least a chance to make numerous big plays throughout the season he just didnt come up with enough of them.

Franklin should enter Denvers offseason program in a much more comfortable place than he was last season when he was still trying to figure out how to decipher calls at the line of scrimmage.

The explosive play in Buffalo provided a snapshot of how dynamic he can be in the open field.

Payton has said repeatedly this offseason that he likes his receiving group, and a belief that Franklin and fellow 2024 draft pick Devaughn Vele can take a Mims-ian jump this season is a major part of the coachs overall outlook at the position.

Advertisement Audric Estime, running back The Broncos backfield will have a different complexion in 2025, but that doesnt mean they wont expect a lot out of the holdovers.

Payton made it clear while speaking at the league meeting last week that hes eager to see how the four running backs currently on the roster Estime, McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson perform during the offseason program alongside the new players Denver adds at the position.

The most intriguing among those is Estime for multiple reasons.

The fifth-round pick used to select him out of Notre Dame is the biggest investment used on any of the players in the room.

Thats not everything Payton once cut a fourth-round rookie running back after training camp in New Orleans but the Broncos are still eager to see more of the 5-foot-11, 227-pound back after a rookie season that had some bright spots.

Estime averaged 4.1 yards on his 76 carries.

A Week 1 injury and a fumble upon his return to the lineup hampered his early progress, but some of his best work came against division opponents during the second half of the season at Kansas City in Week 10; at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

There were enough flashes to provide intrigue about what Estime can bring if he earns a larger role in the offense.

Of particular importance will be Estimes growth as a pass protector.

The Broncos lost one of the leagues best in that department, according to Patons evaluation, when Williams left in free agency.

It will be a trait they are looking for in players they add at the position during or after the draft, but it generally takes a rookie time to become fully trusted in that role.

Estimes work in that department was limited last season, but he held up well when he was called upon to help protect Nix zero pressures among eight pass-block snaps, according to TruMedia.

If Estime can gain Paytons trust as a pass blocker and show better ball security during his second training camp, it wouldnt be a surprise to see him step into an impactful role in 2025.

Thats true even if the Broncos turn to a rookie starter at running back.

(Top photo of Jonah Elliss: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images).

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