The Denver Broncos quarterback battle is heating up and Sean Payton is giving up very little information on who will start on Week 1.
Over the years, the Broncos have fielded some of the game"s elite quarterbacks with both John Elway and Peyton Manning having success in the the Mile High City. The team is now looking for the next franchise quarterback to lead the team forward.
Jarrett Stidham, 27, started two games for the Broncos last season. Zach Wilson, who was the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is still only 24 years old and finished with a 4-7 record in 11 starts last year (5-7 if you count the Buffalo Bills game where Aaron Rodgers was injured in the first quarter). Perhaps the quarterback with the most upside is Broncos 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix.
Nix was the 12th overall pick with Sean Payton keen to use the organization"s first pick on the former Oregon Ducks star. Nix has five years of collegiate experience under his belt and has an impressive resume. He has racked up over 15,000 passing yards and 113 touchdowns over 61 games.
In a recent piece on ESPN, the 24-year-old spoke about working with Payton at the team"s minicamp.
“[Payton] has built a pedigree; when he talks, you listen," said Nix. “It can be a lot; I think I"m being taught really well. [They"re] doing a good job of narrowing everything down, making it simple so I can just get up there and process and play fast," said Nix.
Payton goes into his second year with the team looking a lot different. He has had the chance to draft a group of players that suit his style of play and there will be pressure to perform.
It remains to be seen whether Bo Nix starts in his first year but the young signal-caller has taken a very mature approach and is soaking in all that he can from one of the game"s great offensive minds.
