It is Week 9 around the NFL, and the Denver Broncos are gearing up for an AFC showdown against the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson. Broncos Country sent in their mailbag questions following the team’s dominating win against the Carolina Panthers.

Denver Broncos Week 9 Mailbag

If you want to be featured in our weekly mailbag series, keep your eyes peeled on Mondays for my prompt on social media @CodyRoarkNFL. You can also email them to me at cody@milehighsports.com.

Based on what we saw in Bo Nix’s breakout game vs. Carolina, how much closer is the offense actually gelling at this point? It seems like if they clean up a few things, we will see more of those performances, even against better teams, sooner than we think? – @newtype_jk47 on Twitter.

It’s safe to say that the Broncos offense has been playing better as each week passes. Part of that in my opinion is getting the offensive line right with the return of Mike McGlinchey, but I’d go a step further and say that Denver is getting great contributions from Alex Forsyth at center. I’d argue that even when Luke Wattenberg comes off of injured reserve, I feel like Forsyth has done enough to upend him from returning to the starting role. Bo was terrific in the pocket from an operations standpoint, delivery, and mechanics. Against a Ravens team that allows a lot of explosive plays in the passing game, Nix will need more from other receivers besides Sutton.

I think we’re getting closer to Devaughn Vele stepping in as the true number two receiving option. While I think Denver’s passing game will continue to get better and better, I don’t think they’ll gel fully until they can consistently establish the run. We’ll see how it all plays out this Sunday against Baltimore.

What’s with the Bush League call by Sean Payton with a fake field goal in the fourth quarter when up by 21 points? Do you buy his answer about it being closing out the game? – Ed Helinski on Twitter.

Hey Ed, great question. I personally don’t feel like it was bush league. I’ve always been a big believer in putting your foot on the throat of an opponent when you have the chance to do so. Sunday’s game against Carolina was an opportunity for Denver to try some things they wanted to get to earlier in the season but weren’t in a position to do or try. When the Broncos were wham-blasted by the Miami Dolphins last year, they decided to throw a deep touchdown while up 53-13 against Denver, and Payton didn’t complain about it. It’s the NFL, and asserting your dominance is important. If this was the college or high school level, I feel like it would have been a little more bush league, but this is the best of the best. Certainly it also puts Denver in a position where teams may try to do that to them if they find themselves in that situation, but I agree with Payton’s response to Panthers players who were complaining. Play better.

How would you rank Bo Nix amongst the six QBs taken in the 1st 12 picks? – DMarq on Twitter.

I think right now, Jayden Daniels is the clear-cut option in first place in the rankings. What he’s done in Washington has been incredible. Nix has a legitimate argument for #2 based on what he’s been able to achieve, overcoming the rough start early in the season. He’s progressed on a weekly basis, protecting the football and helping the team win games.

Drake Maye doesn’t have a large enough sample size and doesn’t have great talent around him, but I’d say I’ve been more impressed with how Nix has handled not having a truly consistent playmaker on a week-to-week basis. He’s been the playmaker and has gotten so many others involved. Daniels has Terry McLaurin, Caleb Williams has D.J. Moore, and Keenan Allen.

Nix deserves more national attention for how he has played since the first two weeks.

What are you willing to give up for a top pass catcher? What’s the balance between building for the future and giving up assets/cash? – LetsGoCos on Twitter.

At this point, I wouldn’t give up anything right now if I were the Denver Broncos at the trade deadline. The top receiving options are already off the table, with Amari Cooper in Buffalo, Davante Adams in New York (he was never going to be an option for DEN), and Diontae Johnson ending up in Baltimore.

The best bet for the Broncos right now is to continue to develop young guys like Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin and possibly involve A.T. Perry as the season progresses at wide receiver. The best balance regarding building for the future and giving up assets is a great question. Right now, keeping draft capital, I think, is a leverage move that will allow Denver more flexibility to either trade up or trade back and acquire more capital. Free agency is the best place for Denver to pursue and try and get an immediate playmaker at wide receiver. Some options that will be available will include Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Darius Slayton, and Odell Beckham Jr.

Even with some of those names, there are some risks or non-guarantees associated with signing them. Cooper could re-sign in Buffalo if things continue to go well. Godwin would be coming off of a season-ending injury. Diggs just tore his ACL and will be coming off of that surgery as well. Allen or Williams could be intriguing options even though they aren’t at the level they used to be when they were with the Los Angeles Chargers.