Broncos' Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper Named Top Pass-Rushing Duo in NFL
The Denver Broncos and Jonathan Cooper and Nik Bonitto stand atop the NFL with the most potent edge duo entering this year, according to Bleacher Report's Matt Holder.
Advertisement
The two linebackers accounted for 24 sacks in 2024, the most by any duo in the league. Bonitto exploded onto the scene with 13.5 sacks, earning a Pro Bowl nod and Second-Team All‑Pro honors, while Cooper delivered 10.5 sacks to finish tied for 12th in the NFL.
"These two were some of the most consistent edge-rushers in the NFL last year," Holder said. "Their potential moving forward is through the roof."
Bonitto was a second-round pick in 2022 out of the Oklahoma, while Cooper was taken in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Ohio State and is now far and away outperforming his expectations.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is tackled by Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) and linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) during the first half at MetLife Stadium.Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Cooper and Bonitto helped carry Denver to a league-leading 63 team sacks, nine more than the Baltimore Ravens who finished second (54), but there are 38 more sacks to account for across the team.
Advertisement
"The Broncos have one of the best combos of interior pass-rushers in Zach Allen (25 career sacks in six seasons) and John Franklin-Myers (26.5 sacks in six seasons), and a young, promising edge-rusher off the bench in Jonah Elliss, who had five sacks as a rookie."
Cooper signed an extension worth $60 million over four years last November, while Bonitto could be getting a new contract soon. With youth, explosiveness, and still some room to grow, the duo could terrorize opposing quarterbacks for years to come if Denver locks Bonitto up long-term.
Related: Broncos Safety Keidron Smith's Roster Hopes Hanging by a Thread
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
13 minutes ago
- Fox News
After Statistical Downturn, Is Patrick Mahomes No Longer the NFL's QB1?
Take a peak around the Internet and you'll see a clear consensus: Patrick Mahomes is the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL. I'm here to tell you that picking the NFL's best QB is not so simple. I understand that sounds like clickbait. I promise this will be a nuanced examination. Bear with me, OK? Because when you consider that Mahomes has played in the past three Super Bowls, he has a clear-cut case for being No. 1. Not to mention that, back in 2022, he threw for more than 5,200 yards and, back in 2018, he threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. And still, if you look at who was playing quarterback at the highest level last season, it's fair to point to … someone else. To be clear, I ranked Mahomes No. 1 in my QB rankings this offseason. That was more of a projection, though, with the thought that his past two years have been outliers. And that, with the addition of a strong left tackle and an improved pass-catching core, Mahomes could reclaim the throne. But based upon his recent play? His recent stats? His recent film? The case for Mahomes gets more complicated. Mahomes himself admits that he didn't play up to his own standards last season. "There's plays on the football field that I didn't make last year that I've made in previous years," Mahomes told USA Today. "At the end of the day, I'm going to do whatever it takes to win, whether that's passing for a lot of yards, not passing for a lot of yards. But I think if I play better, that's going to make it better for the team." There was no talk of Mahomes in the MVP discussion last year. That was a neck-and-neck race between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Joe Burrow was in the mix, too, but he fell out because his Bengals couldn't make the playoffs (due to one of the league's worst defenses). If you want the league's most dynamic dual threat, it's Jackson. If you want the strongest arm, it's Allen. If you want the league's best passer, it's Burrow. Even the Madden ratings have shifted. In Madden 26, Allen and Jackson got their usual 99s. Burrow checks in at 97, up from 93 in Madden 25. But after six straight years in the "99 Club," Mahomes dropped to a 95 rating this year. Over the past two years, the case for Mahomes as the league's QB1 rests upon three things: 1) Super Bowl appearances; 2) career winning percentage (79.5%; second all time); and 3) clutch performances. We often use championships to measure the greatest. (Think: Tom Brady.) And we often use counting stats to measure the best. (Think: Peyton Manning.) There's no question that Mahomes is the greatest QB of his generation. But there's nuance to the discussion of who is currently the NFL's best quarterback. It's fair to question whether Mahomes is still the league's QB1. His counting stats have regressed in the past three years. I mentioned his incredible 2022 season: 5,250 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions. In 2023, however, those numbers fell off a cliff. Those watching closely saw that Mahomes had a way of managing games that wasn't exactly elegant or eye-popping. But it got the job done. In 2024, it was more of the same. The Kansas City Chiefs went 15-2 during the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl. But Mahomes' 2022 season was in an entirely different league from his performance last season. His total EPA (expected points added) was 213.2 in 2022 but only 78 in 2024, per Next Gen Stats. He posted a success percentage of 53.3 in 2022 and 49.9% in 2024. His completion percentage over expected was -.2% in 2022 and -1.8% in 2024. His sack percentage was up to 6.2% in 2024 from 3.5% in 2022. Mahomes said it. The stats confirm it: He isn't converting the same number of game-changing plays as in past years. In the case of EPA and EPA/dropback, these last two seasons were the worst of his career. And it's not just a slump by Mahomes' standards. In 2024, Jackson (173), Allen (153.3) and Burrow (82.7) posted better EPA totals. Heck, so did Jared Goff (140.8), Baker Mayfield (99.6) and Jayden Daniels (98.2). Mahomes wasn't dominant last season, not like we're accustomed to seeing from him. And not like his peers. That's why he wasn't in the MVP conversation, not just because of voter fatigue. It's also because he wasn't lifting his team in the same way as Allen or Jackson lifted theirs. So here's the next question: Does EPA tell enough of the story? Because the counterpoint — that, likely, many Chiefs fans are wishing they could convey to me — is that Mahomes didn't need any additional points in all but two games in which he played: the loss to the Bills in the regular season and the loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. And the Chiefs beat the Bills in the playoffs so, really, it was just the Super Bowl where Mahomes needed the higher EPA. In that case, it might seem like nitpicking to criticize Mahomes' low EPA. Last year, the Chiefs won an incredible 17 games, with 10 one-possession wins. But those 10 one-possession games have become a Rorschach test, where the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Mahomes' detractors would argue that, had he played better, the Chiefs wouldn't have had to be cardiac kids. It didn't need to come down to a blocked field goal in Week 10 against the Broncos. It didn't need to come down to an off-the-upright field goal by Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright in Week 14. Mahomes should have been better — and not left it up to the special teams. There's some truth to that. Mahomes' camp will contend that he got just enough points — and through clutch play, not luck. And further to that point, in terms of clutch moments during the regular season and postseason last year, Mahomes is third in the NFL in total EPA (54) on third and fourth downs — and he's also third in total EPA (23) in third and fourth downs in the fourth quarter. That's what you see on film: a guy who steps up in the biggest moments. "In the biggest moments, you can depend on him the most. That's clear," Brady said of Mahomes on "The Joel Klatt Show" podcast. Mahomes remains elite in just about every advanced statistical category, just like the other three QBs that everyone has come to respect: Allen, Jackson and Burrow. And it helps Mahomes that he seems to beat those guys in every meaningful game. Burrow is the only one of the three with a postseason win over Mahomes. And that might be the category that matters most to everyone at this point. When ranking Mahomes over the other three, it's really that the other three can't seem to beat Mahomes. And what else matters, if not head-to-head wins in playoff games? For a long time, a QB's wins-and-losses record was atop his résumé. Recently, QB evaluation has grown more complicated, with the formula fluctuating around wins, film, counting stats and advanced stats. Each variable's value rises and falls based on groupthink. Quarterback wins, for example, went completely out of vogue about two years ago. But now, given Mahomes' befuddling incongruities, people seem to be valuing wins more. Because Mahomes did not win the Super Bowl last season, and because he was not in the mix for MVP — because he did not elevate his team in undeniable fashion — I'm not sure he's the league's best QB. I'll rank him there because he's trustworthy. Because he's as likely as any of the others to turn back into that guy. The Guy. But if we're looking at last season in a vacuum, I see better cases for Jackson or Allen or even Jalen Hurts. Hurts, after all, reminded everyone that Mahomes and the Chiefs are beatable. In the biggest moments. In the biggest game. And perhaps that's what makes the 2025 season so compelling for Mahomes. It could be the year when he loses that QB1 label. He's as vulnerable as ever, especially if — for example — Allen, Jackson or Burrow wins a Super Bowl. Will Mahomes prove people right — that he's still QB1? At what point will he stop being the safe bet? Might we see another year of good-but-not-best play? Mahomes does seem to have a strong left tackle again. Rookie Josh Simmons appears to have won the starting job based on his incredible play during training camp. The picture at the pass-catcher spot isn't totally clear. Xavier Worthy looked strong at the end of last season, but there are big questions about the others. Travis Kelce is aging, Hollywood Brown is oft-injured, Rashee Rice is returning from injury and likely to serve a four-to-six-game suspension, and Jalen Royals is a rookie. Still, there's reason for optimism. Mahomes is the most successful quarterback we've seen since Brady. But even Brady experienced years when his play dipped. That's what seems to be happening with Mahomes, even with his team making three Super Bowls in a row. The Chiefs might have been as dangerous as ever, but I'm just not sure Mahomes has been. Before joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox News
13 minutes ago
- Fox News
2025 Big Bets Report: Bettor Turns $10 into $30k via 13-Leg Parlay
Plenty of people question why anyone would bet on NFL preseason odds. But sharp bettors who do their research often find edges that don't exist in the regular season. And for the public betting masses, let's be honest: They can't get enough of the NFL, no matter the time of year. With that, a Caesars Sportsbook customer was in midseason parlay form with NFL preseason Week 2 odds, and it paid off handsomely. Read on for more on that customer's wager and other notable bets on NFL and College Football Playoff odds. Moneyline Madness There were three preseason games last Thursday, leaving 13 to go on the Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule. And at some point on Friday, a bettor decided to get in on all 13 of those games at once. The customer placed a $10, 13-leg moneyline parlay bet, meaning every team chosen — including several underdogs — had to win outright. Obviously, there's a lot of luck involved in winning these lottery-ticket types of wagers. Even more so with this one. Friday's Lions-Falcons game was called with 6:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, after a potentially serious injury suffered by Lions safety Morice Norris. Thankfully, after staying overnight in an Atlanta hospital, Norris flew back to Detroit on Saturday and is doing well in concussion protocol. As for the game outcome, most sportsbooks' house rules require 55 minutes of game time in order for a betting result to be official. The Lions-Falcons game was suspended after 53:29, with Detroit leading 17-10. The bettor had Atlanta moneyline as one leg, but that was voided due to the game not meeting the time requirement. However, the wager was still live, now as a 12-leg parlay. Then on Sunday, the Dolphins and Bears played to a 24-24 tie. The bettor had the Dolphins moneyline, but in the event of a tie, that result is discarded, too. So the parlay dropped to 11 legs. And as fate would have it, the remaining 11 legs hit. The only semi-sweat: The Cardinals got a field goal with 3:47 remaining, as the final points in a 20-17 victory over the Chiefs. So even though the parlay dropped from 13 legs to 11 legs, that 10 bucks still turned into a whopping $30,978. You can't argue with that kind of ROI. Super Bowl Dreams The Bills and Ravens are +600 co-favorites in DraftKings Sportsbook's Super Bowl odds. Close behind are the defending champion Eagles (+700) and the Chiefs (+850), with the popular Lions the +1100 fifth choice. Those teams are all seeing plenty of action to lift the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 8. But as mentioned last week, at this time of year, fans of the worst teams have high hopes, too. That includes a New York Jets backer with a somewhat curiously sized bet. The DraftKings customer put $3,196.96 — yep, 96 cents too — on Jets +25000 to win the Super Bowl. In easier-to-digest numbers, that's 250/1 odds, putting New York 30th among the 32 NFL teams. If somehow Justin Fields & Co. do the unthinkable, then the bettor wins a massive $799,240 (total payout $802,436.96). Running Men A Caesars Sports customer is hoping the Packers have their rushing attack in good order this season. The bettor put $200 on the Packers recording at least one rushing touchdown in every regular-season game. The odds of doing so are a sizable +6000. So, if Green Bay manages to do it, then the bettor profits $12,000. Caesars also took another notable bet tied to running backs, and this one is a much longer shot. A customer put $500 on Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty winning the NFL MVP award, at odds of +25000 (250/1). It's highly unlikely, but the payout is a healthy $62,500 if Jeanty has a rookie season for the ages. I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie A BetMGM customer in Arizona has got some serious interest in who wins the College Football Playoff. And the customer has three options to cash out for a lot of money. In late June, the bettor showed up at BetMGM's sportsbook adjacent to the Arizona Cardinals' stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The customer proceeded to make three major wagers: At the moment, Texas is the +475 favorite in BetMGM's college football national championship odds. Penn State is the +700 fourth choice, and Clemson has climbed to the +900 co-fifth choice, joined by Oregon. The bettor's total investment is $615,000. The potential profit on Texas and Penn State titles is exactly the same, at $1.5 million. A Clemson title is ostensibly the same, with a profit of $1.495 million. It's gonna be a long haul to the Jan. 19 championship game. Perennial title contenders Georgia and Alabama, among others, will have a say in who goes out on top. All I can say is good luck, and remind the rest of you that these big bets often come from high-roller types who can afford them. Keep it reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He's based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ravens' Lamar Jackson ends No. 8 trademark battle with Troy Aikman
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has ended his challenge to Troy Aikman's trademark use of the No. 8, according to the Baltimore Sun. Jackson originally filed the challenge in July 2024, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said this week that the Ravens quarterback filed to withdraw his challenge on Monday. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] At issue was Aikman owning and applying for several trademarks featuring the word "EIGHT" on apparel and bags, which Jackson's legal team reportedly argued would be "likely to cause confusion, or cause mistake, or to deceive" the public when it comes to figuring out if they're buying a Troy Aikman T-shirt or Lamar Jackson T-shirt. FL101, the company behind the Aikman products, has several products featuring "EIGHT," including a light beer brand, but Jackson was only disputing the bags and apparel. Aikman responded jokingly on social media following the July 2024 news by telling Jackson, 'Hey Lamar, looks like a worthy conversation over a couple cold EIGHT beers! Maybe Steve Young can arbitrate??' Jackson has been making his own apparel for years under his Era 8 Apparel brand, with products including T-shirts that just have the numeral 8 on them. Jackson has reportedly applied for a number of trademarks around the number, most of them featuring the "Era 8" name. This isn't the first time Jackson has gone to battle over his apparel company, as he filed a lawsuit against Amazon in 2020 over selling unlicensed merchandise featuring his registered trademarks. He also resolved a trademark dispute with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in April after the NASCAR Hall of Famer secured the right to a different No. 8.
