As Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos took the field on Thursday for their final OTA practice of the week, it was clear as day how much more comfortable he looked compared to last year, but in his mind, he still believes he has a lot to prove.
Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix believes he still has a lot to prove ahead of year two
In his rookie season, it wasn’t until Week 4 against the New York Jets that Bo Nix threw his first NFL touchdown in the regular season. After a slow start in the first few weeks of the season, it was clear that Nix was still getting acclimated to the lengthy playbook Sean Payton threw at him, but once he got it down, everything clicked.
ICYMI: Denver Broncos wrap up Week 1 of OTAs, Bo Nix looks crisp
Nix went on to finish his rookie season with 3775 yards passing, 29 passing touchdowns, compared to 12 interceptions. He also ran for four touchdowns and caught one last season.
His 29 passing touchdowns as a rookie surpassed Baker Mayfield for the second-most passing TDs thrown all time in a rookie season, just a few shy of AFC West rival Justin Herbert.
Nix led the Broncos to their first playoff appearance in nearly 10 years, and while there’s well-deserved hype around him, he believes he still has a lot to prove heading into his second season.
“It’s a loaded question because each year you start over,” Nix said. “Nobody really knows what anybody has. That’s why you go out there and play the season. If we were all what people said we were going to be, we wouldn’t play the season. We would just finish with the final standings of what they said we were going to be. So that’s why you play the game. That’s why you go out there and go through a full season. We’re going to learn a lot from this time to the season. We’re going to learn a lot once we get into the season and go. I have a buddy on the team and we talk about it all the time—we tell each other, ‘You’re still a nobody, you haven’t done anything yet.’ We have a lot to prove, and we have a lot to go out there and do. It’s people like that who keep you in check. It’s teammates that have your back and continue to motivate you because he’s right. I haven’t done anything up until this point, and I have a lot to prove and a lot to show.”
Denver’s got a tough slate of opponents this season, but they have a revamped roster that features new additions like Evan Engram at tight end, RJ Harvey at running back, Pat Bryant at wide receiver, and more expected from Marvin Mims, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele.
Engram might be the most important addition, where Payton hopes he can use him as a ‘Joker’ in an attempt to work the middle of the field more.
“He’s been here since he was signed, getting ready and preparing,” Nix said. “That’s been fun to see. So, I’ve gotten to be around him a lot. Then we just started working on the field. Early on in OTAs, you get to come out here and throw routes and just see what he’s like. See what kind of routes he runs and see what he’s thinking. We talk a lot. He’s always asking me about certain things. When you get him out to practice, it’s just seeing how he reacts. I’m excited to include him and add him to what we already have. I think it’ll be good for us.”
Nix was an appealing factor in a lot of the free agent decisions that players like Engram and Talanoa Hufanga made this offseason. There’s a tangible belief that he is the franchise guy for the Broncos, and while Nix is in a great position, he maintains the right mindset of putting in the work and finding ways to grow and adapt.
There’s a mighty fine feeling brewing right now in Dove Valley.
