2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Oklahoma vs. Baylor
Oklahoma EDGE Nik Bonitto
Nik Bonitto is the best 2022 NFL Draft prospect on Oklahoma’s defense. His ceiling is likely the first round, and his floor is likely the early third round. He’s 6’3”, 240 pounds and listed as an outside linebacker, and he does most of his damage rushing the quarterback. He’s a very good, but not great athlete, which is the main reason why he’s not a first round lock.
The redshirt junior was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and he’s improved his sack and tackle for loss totals in each year that he’s played. Last year he racked up nine sacks in 10 games and was named a second team All-American by the Associated Press. It’s been more of the same this year as Bonitto is tied for 6th in the Big 12 in sacks with five through eight games.
As a pass rusher, Nik Bonitto has an explosive first step that he can use to dictate the action in his matchup against the tackle that’s blocking him. He has the speed to to try to run right around most offensive linemen and the agility to change directions quickly and make his way to the quarterback. When you add in Nik Bonitto’s fluid and pliable lower body and his consistently rapid upper body movements to an array of pass-rushing counter moves like spins, it’s easy to see why he’s been so hard to block at the college level.
What sets Nik Bonitto apart from other pass rushers is his ability to cover and his motor. He’s a smart player and uses that knowledge to cover backs and tight ends in the flat better than most pass rush specialists. His effort is also one of his strengths, as he will often refuse to quit on a play and wind up making a tackle that most players would have given up on. 2022 NFL Draft scouts appreciate when a player can do more than rush the passer.
Despite his many strengths, Nik Bonitto has some significant weaknesses. He’s a bit undersized at 240 pounds to be trying to beat NFL tackles one-on-one, and he’s not super long either. Though he can cover and rush the passer, Bonitto struggles against the run. He is easily moved aside or cleared out on some interior and off-tackle runs, and he was more than once he was rendered a non-factor. Teams would probably notice this and run right at him. This can be accounted for at the next level though, as teams could coach him up to improve his technique when defending the run, or just use him situationally at first until he becomes stouter against the ground game.