A new era will start this fall for the Denver Broncos as they hope quarterback Bo Nix will lead them to the promised land after they drafted him in the first round. As he starts to get familiar with the Broncos organization, he spoke highly of his new head coach in Sean Payton, talking about his “pedigree” according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.
“[Payton] has built a pedigree; when he talks, you listen,” Nix said. ” …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.”
Nix “super excited” to be with the Broncos
Nix was selected with the 12th overall pick in the last NFL Draft, being the sixth signal-caller taken in the first round as he comes out of the University of Oregon. Last season, he threw for a whopping 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns, and three interceptions, leading the Ducks to a Fiesta Bowl win over Liberty as Nix expressed his excitement playing for Denver.
“I'm super excited … can't wait to get out and about and go see everything,” Nix said. “The city is incredible. I can't believe I get to wear a Broncos jersey and go out there and do what so many greats have done before me. I don't take that lightly and I'm not going to take it for granted. Pressure gives you opportunities. I think the more pressure and responsibility you have, the more you have to go out there and consistently earn it.”
Payton said Nix is “like watching a good golfer”
Nix spent the first three seasons of his college football career with Auburn before transferring to Oregon to play his final two years with the program. There have been multiple NFL comparisons made to Drew Brees not only because of the measurements, but also because of the connection with Payton since he was a former head coach of the New Orleans Saints. He would say that looking at Nix play is like “watching a good golfer.”
“It's almost like watching a good golfer,” Payton said. “Sometimes when you watch his game over two years, there's a patience to how he plays. The ball comes out, and — I don't want to use the term boring, that's not the right term, but pretty good decisions. With each play, the efficiency of how he's operating, and all of that. … So oftentimes, your first exposure to huddle, snap count, verbiage, that can be challenging, but I thought he threw it well.”
A crowded quarterback room for Denver
The quarterback situation for the Broncos has been in deep doubt as for the past several seasons, it was Russell Wilson that was looked at to revitalize the franchise, but both parties has since moved on. Besides Nix, they have Jarrett Stidham on the roster and made another acquisition at the position in trading for former first-round pick for the New York Jets Zach Wilson. When asked about who will take first-team reps, Payton would not have a definite answer to the media.
“We'll figure it out,” Payton expressed at minicamp when talking about the work Nix and other quarterbacks will receive in the foreseeable future per Legwold of ESPN. ” …With young guys, the reps are important. But we'll have a rotation, and we'll go from there.”
In any sense, the Broncos are looking to improve after another disappointing year last season as they finished 8-9 and third in the AFC West that is only getting stronger with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers in the division. Their first game of the season will be against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8.
