Denver Broncos Name Rookie Bo Nix as Starting Quarterback

The Denver Broncos have officially named rookie quarterback Bo Nix as their starter.

Nix, who was drafted by the Broncos, has impressed in training camp and two preseason games. He has edged out veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the top spot.

Solving Denver’s Quarterback Conundrum

The Broncos have been searching for a reliable quarterback since the Peyton Manning era. Since then, 13 different quarterbacks have started for the team, including Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater, and Russell Wilson, who was traded to the Seahawks in 2022.

The Broncos parted ways with Wilson after two losing seasons, releasing him in the offseason. The trade to acquire Wilson is considered one of the worst in NFL history.

High Stakes for Sean Payton

The decision to start Nix marks the beginning of a new era under Payton. As the quarterback’s successes and failures will define Payton’s tenure in Denver, the pressure is on for both Nix and Payton.

Payton developed a reputation as an offensive and quarterback guru in 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, leading the franchise to its first and only Super Bowl win with Drew Brees. He carries that reputation and the expectations that come with it to Denver.

Nix’s Rise to Prominence

In college, Nix earned the starting job as a freshman at Auburn in 2019 and was named SEC Freshman of the Year. Although his consistency and accuracy waned in three seasons at Auburn, he transferred to Oregon in 2022 and thrived.

At Oregon, Nix completed 74.9% of his passes for an average of 4,050 yards, 37 touchdowns, and five interceptions per season. He was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, beating out USC’s Caleb Williams, who won the 2022 Heisman Trophy.

Nix’s performance at Oregon earned him a first-round selection. He was the sixth quarterback taken after Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy.

In two brief preseason appearances, Nix has completed 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in a 27-2 win over the Green Bay Packers last week.

While preseason stats should be taken with a grain of salt, Nix has impressed nonetheless and earned his first shot at real NFL action for Denver’s regular-season opener on the road against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.