Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesIt’s safe to say that Sean Payton is impressed with his rookie quarterback.
During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Nix is “everything” the Denver Broncos coach expected him to be after selecting him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and that he is making a case to be the team’s Week 1 starter:
“We have a real quarterback battle in Denver. Bo Nix will be battling it out with Zach Wilson, veteran Jarrett Stidham for that starting job. And here’s where Nix can make a compelling case. In the spring, I was told that he was really everything Sean Payton thought he would be. At least, you know the early sentiments. He can operate in the pocket with a lot of traffic around him. He showed a hair-quick trigger release out of the pocket, and then he’s been athletic and really mature. He’s showed with 61 starts in college that came out in how he handles himself in team meetings and on the practice field inside and outside the huddle. So, made quite the impression so far.”Stidham is the veteran in the room, having been in the NFL since 2019 and having been with the Broncos since 2023. Ironically, Nix also took over for Stidham as Auburn’s quarterback after the latter entered the NFL.
Wilson spent the first three seasons of his career with the New York Jets and was selected with the No. 2 pick in 2021. He was traded to Denver in the offseason and now hopes to get his career back on track in a new setting.
While Nix may not officially be the starter yet, Denver has identified him as the quarterback of the future. The Broncos selected Nix with the 12th pick in the Draft. He was the sixth quarterback taken, and the 24-year-old will hope to relay his collegiate success into his pro career.
Nix threw for 15,351 yards and 113 touchdowns during his five-year collegiate career, with his final season at Oregon being particularly excellent. He led the Ducks to a 12-2 record in 2023, throwing for 4,508 yards with 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
He now will look to help stabilize the quarterback room in Denver, as the franchise has struggled at the position since Peyton Manning led it to a Super Bowl 50 victory in the 2015 season.
Source : Bleacher Report