The Denver Broncos have been better than any team in the league at getting to the quarterback over the last couple of seasons, and a big reason for their success in that department is the combination of outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper.
Since the two began playing together in Denver in 2022, they have combined for 65 sacks. That number helped give the duo a spot on the list of the 10 best dynamic duos in the NFL, written by Carter Bahns of CBS Sports. Here was his analysis:
"Only five teams in NFL history accumulated as many or more sacks as the 2025 Denver Broncos. It was far from a two-man show, but Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper did the heaviest lifting with a combined 22 regular-season sacks.
Bonitto is now an established star, having proved that his 2024 breakout was no fluke. He boasts two top 10 finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting since becoming a full-time starter, and the highest paid defender in franchise history seems likely to earn himself another huge raise before long to become one of the NFL's top earners at the edge rusher position.
There is some uncertainty around the other half of the duo heading into 2026, though. If Cooper is on the field, the Broncos can count on the consistent pass rusher to flirt with double-digit sacks. But he has been arrested twice this offseason and faces several charges including domestic violence. Cooper's trial is expected to begin on July 22 and could coincide with the start of training camp."
The Broncos have enjoyed tremendous success with this combination, but there is no doubt that the off-field issues surrounding Cooper cloud things and could force the Broncos into some difficult decisions. If the Broncos were to lose Cooper to a suspension or something even more drastic, it would be quite difficult for the Broncos to maintain this type of dynamic pair.
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The team should already be having those discussions, however. Third-year linebacker Jonah Elliss would get the first crack at filling the shoes of Cooper and if that didn't work out, the Broncos could have a big problem. The team needs to consider all angles as it relates to what could potentially happen with Cooper, which includes filling the depth on the roster as the outside linebacker position is not exactly deep behind he and Bonitto.
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