While Sean Payton is busy assembling key pieces from NFL free agency, his linebacker has dropped a bombshell in another team’s locker room with a strong message about Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow. A few days ago, Joe Burrow backed up his words when he vowed to keep intact the trio with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the future. As we all know, both wide receivers secured staggering deals from the Bengals organization. But just as that update was settling in, Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto put the NFL on notice with his comments about Burrow.

In a recent conversation with a YouTuber, Nik Bonitto praised Burrow when asked if there was an underrated quarterback in the NFL. Without hesitation, he responded, “Joe Burrow.” When pressed on why he believes Burrow is underrated and what makes him so good, Bonitto explained, “Joe Burrow is just… he is one of the smartest quarterbacks, probably the smartest quarterback.” He added, “At least, that’s how it felt against us. He knew what was coming. Every time the ball was snapped, it was already getting out—he knew exactly where he wanted to go.” Bonitto also described how Burrow’s intelligence and ability to escape the pocket make him even more dangerous.

In the Bengals’ latest game against the Broncos on December 29, 2024, Burrow put on a show, throwing three touchdowns with a 79.6% completion rate—connecting on 39 of 49 pass attempts—and zero interceptions. Maybe that’s why Sean Payton’s linebacker, Nik Bonitto, was so impressed with Burrow’s football IQ and skill set.

But while Bonitto had high praise for the Bengals QB, another intriguing update sent ripples through the Broncos organization. Could Denver actually be in line for a valuable 2026 compensatory selection? The NFL’s complex formula for awarding these picks never guarantees anything, but the latest developments suggest a real possibility. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s dive in and find out what this could mean for the team’s future!

Is Sean Payton’s Broncos in line to get a compensatory pick?

We are talking about the 2026 season, and per Over The Cap, the Denver Broncos can get a compensatory 7th-round pick, as the NFL grants teams an additional pick when they lose coaches, executives, or players in the recent past. In the case of the Denver Broncos, the team lost a chance to receive compensatory picks for Zach Wilson and Cody Barton but secured a pick for the departure of Riley Dixon. Now, they may receive a 7th-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

On March 10, 2025, the Denver Broncos moved on from Riley Dixon and traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He signed a two-year, $6,000,000 deal with Tampa Bay. Though the trade has opened up a path for compensatory picks, the picture remains unclear. The NFL’s compensatory draft pick formula is quite secretive. Experts like Nick Korte of Over The Cap warn that the NFL could still deny the Denver Broncos a 7th-round pick. The league determines these additional selections based on per-year deals, and many veterans—such as Amari Cooper and Russell Wilson—remain unsigned, which could hurt the Broncos’ chances of receiving a compensatory pick.

The pick formula for Sean Payton’s Broncos will also become more complicated if they sign veterans like Stefon Diggs or Keenan Allen. However, after April 28, the Broncos can continue adding players in free agency without worrying about compensatory picks, as they will need to wait and see how other teams handle trades. Let’s see what happens!