Award-Winning Pro Bowler Puts League on Notice About Broncos QB Bo Nix

Expectations are high for Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix following a record-setting rookie season, and the pressure is on from his own teammates. There have been no direct challenges, but their comments underscore the anticipation around Nix’s second season.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II was asked how much more confident the Broncos are with Nix in place.

The Pro Bowl cornerback, Surtain, instead mentioned Nix’s confidence.

“Bo, he’s even more confident going into this year. Obviously, with year one under his belt, a lot more confidence rises upon that,” Surtain told reporters on July 22. “The team, we have Bo back the whole way through. He’s a tremendous leader out there. Obviously, a tremendous player. So, this year he’s going to make a lot of noise, and we’re looking forward to see what he does and his success moving forward.”

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey, part of the group tasked with keeping Nix upright on every play, echoed Surtain’s sentiments and even took the praise for his quarterback a step further.

“I don’t think it really affected anybody’s confidence a year ago, but I think it was kind of – it kind of became the expectation midway through. And then, the way that he looked in the spring, and the way that he came back, and the energy that he came back with, … his confidence is going to radiate through the whole team,” McGlinchey told reporters on July 22.

“Bo’s done a great job of that. He’s a pro’s pro in the way that he approaches the game, and the way that he treats his teammates. And yeah, he’s going to be a great player for us this year.”

Nix and the Broncos will take the field for their first practice on Wednesday, July 23.

Sean Payton’s Plan for Bo Nix Looms as Broncos ‘Biggest Storyline’

Nix faces the threat of the dreaded sophomore slump, and it is Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s job to help him avoid that. Defenses have a season’s worth of tape on him.

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold called that the Broncos’ “biggest storyline” to open training camp.

“What adjustments will Sean Payton make in Year 2 with quarterback Bo Nix? Many of the short and intermediate routes Nix was so successful with in a 29-touchdown rookie season might be better covered as defensive coaches will likely push Nix into more throws outside the numbers. Nix’s effectiveness as a runner will no longer be the surprise it was last season,” Legwold wrote on July 22.

“How Payton expands his quarterback’s portfolio in the passing game, builds a more effective run game and uses new TE Evan Engram in a position that has had little impact will be three of the biggest pieces to the puzzle.”

Nix completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with the Broncos as a rookie.

Bo Nix Well Protected

Nix can take solace in the fact that the Broncos boast one of, if not the, best offensive lines in the NFL.

ESPN’s Mike Clay called the unit the Broncos’ “biggest strength.”

“This was an easy call after the Broncos led the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate in 2024,” Clay wrote on July 21. “Denver returns all five starters from that unit, all of whom played 800-plus snaps (including the playoffs) last season. LT Garett Bolles, LG Ben Powers, C Luke Wattenberg, RG Quinn Meinerz and RT Mike McGlinchey each posted a pass block win rate well above league average. Incredibly, Wattenberg (first), Meinerz (third) and Powers (fourth) all ranked in the top four leaguewide in that category.”

The Broncos also bolstered their running game, potentially giving Nix a more formidable threat to lean on in veteran free agent pickup J.K. Dobbins and rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey, the No. 60 overall pick of the 2025 draft.