The Denver Broncos have successfully debunked the myth that an elite NFL defense requires shattering the salary cap. They have maintained a more productive unit at a fraction of the cost.

The Broncos’ front office built a pass rush that has led the league in sacks for two consecutive seasons. Gary Davenport of the Bleacher Report puts the Broncos at No.2 on his list, and the statistical dominance of pass rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper is proof. 

Over the last two seasons, the duo has combined for a staggering 46.0 sacks. Bonitto, who emerged as an All-Pro and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year finalist, backed up a 13.5-sack breakout in 2024. He reached a career-high 14.0 sacks in 2025. 

Cooper has been the ultimate model of consistency and versatility, recording at least 8.0 sacks and 50 tackles in each of the past three seasons.

This relentless pressure was the engine behind Denver's 14-3 record and their move to the AFC Championship game. 

Granted, the Houston Texans’ pass rushers had more sacks in 2025, beating the Denver Broncos' duo 27 to 22.

However, Denver is actually in a better position because it spent much less money to get those results.

How the Broncos Earned the AFC's Top Seed 

The Denver Broncos are showing the rest of the NFL how to win games while saving money. They finished the regular season with a fantastic 14-3 record, earning the number one seed and heading to the AFC Championship Game.

On the other hand, the Houston Texans were knocked out in the playoffs for the third year in a row. 

A big reason for Denver's success is how they handle their player contracts compared to Houston. DNVR’s Zac Stevens pointed out the staggering gap between player salaries offered by the Broncos and the Texans via post on his official X account.

“Nik Bonitto makes nearly HALF of Will Anderson Jr’s new deal per year. Bonitto is already a TREMENDOUS value for the Broncos,” Stevens wrote.

 The Texans gave Will Anderson Jr. a record-breaking deal worth $150 million over three years. Meanwhile, the Broncos signed Bonitto to a four-year deal for $106 million, even though he has almost the same stats as Anderson. In fact, he is even better than the Texans' defensive in some areas. 

The savings don't stop there. The Broncos also signed Jonathon Cooper to a four-year deal for $60 million. To compare, the Texans are paying Danielle Hunter over $40 million for just one season. 

The cap value saved from prudent player contracts gave the team the leeway to use it in other areas that needed improvement. The Broncos have built a stronger team for a better price, proving they are one of the best-run franchises in football. 

Now, what remains to be seen is whether the Broncos can keep the trend going this season as well.

Read more at the Denver Broncos Community!

Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit