There is no bigger storyline for the Denver Broncos than the team’s addition of Bo Nix this offseason. With that said, several big-picture questions loom large surrounding Denver and their vision for the guy Sean Payton became enamored with during the draft process.
Biggest questions the Denver Broncos, Bo Nix must answer at QB
With Broncos Camp set to kick off here in the next two weeks, all eyes will be on Nix and Payton and the ongoing quarterback competition that’s set to be the talking point of every training camp practice and preseason game, unless things change early on.
Will Sean Payton allow Bo Nix to jump into the fire early?
There’s always this long-winded debate about whether or not a quarterback is ready to play as a rookie in today’s NFL. Far too often, we have witnessed various young QBs flame out quickly by being thrust into the spotlight early on, surrounded by high expectations.
Of course, in Denver, the expectations for Nix are high, and certainly, he understands that. He embraces it and isn’t the type of player or competitor that will let that influence how he prepares. The question is whether or not Payton believes Nix is ready enough to play as a rookie with a tough slate of opponents in 2024.
CJ Stroud took the NFL by storm last season with the Houston Texans. The expectations for him and the Texans weren’t high or even close to where the team performed last season because they surpassed them by a landslide. Stroud’s type of rise is an anomaly that we don’t often see every year in the NFL, and commentary surrounding Denver this offseason has suggested that Nix has to have that type of rise.
Comparison is the thief of joy and Payton isn’t the type of head coach or quarterback evaluator who is going to put that type of outside pressure of what he calls the ‘NFL van’ on his young guy. Nix played a large amount of games at the NCAA level as a starter and put up big numbers in his past two seasons at Oregon. Fire doesn’t seem to scare Nix and that was on display during OTAs and minicamp where he and veteran Jarrett Stidham easily stood out as the best two options on the team at the position.
Can Nix take his bumps and bruises as a rookie and keep growing?
What’s inevitable in the NFL is that every player and every quarterback is going to have moments where they struggle or have a bad game. If Nix wins the starting job in training camp, will Broncos Country let him take his bumps and bruises? We live in a microwave society where things need to happen right away from a perception standpoint, but that often tends to cloud judgment and lead to frustration.
While it would be amazing to see Nix come in and light it up as a rookie, you have to also embrace the possibility he doesn’t right away and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean the Broncos made the wrong pick if he struggles, especially if there are areas of his game you see him growing in and making progress with. For example, if Nix has a game where he throws two interceptions, how does he respond in the next game? If he struggles with chemistry with his receivers early on in practice and has several throws that are behind them, can he adjust and lead them in stride in the next practice — for the latter, that’s something we’ve already witnessed him overcome early at OTAs.
Let Nix develop and grow regardless of success or struggles.
Can Nix elevate Broncos talent around him?
Nix is a talented player who has every visible trait to him to elevate the talent around him. Can he do that as a rookie is a big question. Going into 2024, it will be imperative for Payton to have players like Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick at the receiver position as reliable security blankets for him. It’s important for Payton to give Nix a reliable option at tight end and facilitate a strong rushing attack that doesn’t handicap the Broncos’ ability to have balance offensively.
I believe Nix can elevate the talent around him, whether that’s with already-established names or younger players who are working to create a name for themselves. Marvin Mims’ speed, Josh Reynolds’ consistency factor, and his chemistry with Troy Franklin are things that can help benefit him and the team mutually.
Payton didn’t assemble this team during the offseason to put all of the pressure on the shoulders of the QB, and it’s evident. He wouldn’t have drafted Nix if he didn’t believe that he can or already elevates those around him on the field with his physical traits and with his leadership. So what’s next?
The Broncos need to let things play out and give Nix the platform to grow into their system and allow him to evolve the system into ‘his.’