The Broncos have spent the last two seasons turning quarterback pressure into a weekly problem for opposing offenses, and a new ranking says their edge presence still belongs in the upper tier of the league.
Sports Illustrated slotted Denver’s Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen at No. 3 on its list of the NFL’s top pass-rushing tandems for 2026, behind the Los Angeles Rams’ Myles Garrett and Byron Young at No. 1 and the Houston Texans’ Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. at No. 2.
“A 3-4 defensive end, Allen might be the most underrated player in the NFL. It’s something that should be impossible, considering he played for a 14-3, top-seeded team last season. Yet he remains so, even with pacing the NFL over the past two seasons in quarterback hits with 47 and 40, respectively,” SI's Matt Verderame wrote.
Allen’s reputation keeps growing, even if the broader public hasn’t fully caught up yet. He has made the Associated Press All-Pro team in each of the last two seasons, including first team honors last year, and at 28 he’s still squarely in his prime.
Bonitto has taken the other side of the equation and turned himself into a star. He earned a four-year, $106 million extension beginning this year after posting a team-high 14 sacks last season, his second straight year with at least 13.5. At 26, he’s already become one of the league’s elite pass rushers.
“On the outside, Bonitto earned a four-year, $106 million extension beginning this year by turning into one of the game’s elite pass rushers. Last season, he helped the Broncos lead the league with 68 sacks by having a team-high 14, his second consecutive season with at least 13.5. Only 26 and surrounded by pass rushers, including Allen and Jonathan Cooper, Bonitto’s best days might be ahead of him,” Verderame wrote.
The pairing works because each player feeds the other. Allen’s interior push forces quarterbacks off their spot, and Bonitto has the burst to finish the play on the edge.
Bonitto has benefited from Allen’s pressure at times, and Allen has also cashed in when Bonitto creates chaos on the outside. That inside-outside combination is exactly what makes the duo so dangerous.
Denver’s sack production backs up the reputation. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks in each of the past two seasons, piling up 68 last year and coming close to the 1984 Chicago Bears’ single-season record of 72. A late-season dip kept them from getting even closer, with Jonathon Cooper managing just one sack over the final eight weeks.
The Broncos would love a little more disruption in one specific area this year: strips and forced fumbles. Both Allen and Bonitto consistently get to quarterbacks, but the takeaway numbers haven’t matched the pressure. Bonitto did deliver a strip-sack on Josh Allen in Denver’s 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, one of four turnovers Buffalo’s quarterback committed that day.
There’s also a bigger roster question hanging over the group. Denver has plenty of money tied up in its front seven, with all projected starters on major extensions. Allen and Bonitto are both on their second contracts with the team, and both are young enough that a third deal is possible down the road.
Jonathan Cooper’s situation adds another layer. He was arrested twice in June and faces serious criminal charges in Denver, leaving his future with the Broncos uncertain. The NFL is expected to suspend him regardless of what happens in court, so Denver has to prepare for life without him, at least for a stretch.
That makes the team’s depth even more important. Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman and Que Robinson are all in the mix behind the top names, giving the Broncos some real options if they need to absorb the loss.
If Allen and Bonitto keep producing at this level, Denver has a real chance to stay near the top of the league’s pass-rush conversation. SI’s ranking says they’re already there.
In Other News...
Broncos Uniform Overhaul Is Getting The NFL Respect Fans Wanted
When the Broncos rolled out the Mile High Collection for 2024, it was clear the franchise wanted the new look to do more than just freshen up the closet. The mix of the 77 Throwbacks and the Midnight Navy set was built to lean into Denver and Colorado identity, and the early reaction around the league has backed up the idea that this was more than a cosmetic tweak.
Sports Illustrateds Mike Kadlick slotted Denver 10th in his ranking of all 32 NFL teams uniform combinations, a solid sign that the overhaul is getting the respect fans were hoping for. The Broncos landed behind a handful of other clubs, with the Chargers at No. 1 and several familiar rivals grouped around them, which only adds a little extra edge as the team moves toward training camp and gets ready to show the new threads on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Three Broncos Backups Could Quietly Decide Denver's 2026 Ceiling
The Broncos ceiling in 2026 may have as much to do with the back end of the roster as the names at the top of it. Malcolm Roach has already shown he can help on the defensive line, and with John Franklin-Myers gone in free agency, there is a path for his workload to matter more if Denver leans on his run defense and pass rush production. It is the kind of quiet swing factor that rarely gets the spotlight in July but can shape how sturdy a defense looks by the time the season starts.
Inside linebacker is murkier, with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad ahead of a spot that is still very much up for grabs. The Broncos also have a rookie tight end in Justin Joly who has a realistic chance to stick and could fit as a receiving option in the TE3 conversation, which adds another layer to a roster battle worth watching. If Denver gets useful answers from those backup jobs, the 2026 roster starts looking a lot deeper and a lot more complete. [Read more 🡒]
Jaleel McLaughlin Sends Clear Message As Broncos Role Remains Unsettled
Jaleel McLaughlin has spent much of his Broncos tenure fighting for touches, but his stance on staying in Denver has been clear. Even with his playing time limited, the running back has made it plain that he wants to keep building here, drawn to the team, the city and the chance to win with the Broncos rather than look elsewhere for a bigger role.
That kind of patience matters in a backfield that still feels unsettled, where every rep can shape the pecking order. McLaughlins commitment gives Denver a little stability, even if his path to a larger workload remains unclear, and it fits the profile of a player willing to wait out the depth chart as long as the long-term payoff stays in view. [Read more 🡒]