The Denver Broncos have at least one very happy player right now. Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton says he is excited that the team now has quarterback Bo Nix. Nix was drafted by the team in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Bo brings a lot of really good qualities to our team in terms of the quarterback position. He does a lot of things really, really well on the field. He has that leader mentality, that aura that he walks with,” Sutton said, per theDenvr.com.
Nix played his college football at Oregon. He is expected to compete right away for the starting quarterback position for the Broncos.
Nix and what he brings to Denver
Nix enters spring practices with a lot of excitement for Denver. The Broncos drafted him to fill the void at quarterback, after Russell Wilson left for Pittsburgh. The Broncos also have Zach Wilson, taken in from the New York Jets this offseason. The two are expected to compete for the starting position, but it is thought that Nix has the edge.
Nix finished his final year at Oregon with 4,508 yards passing. That was a career-high season for the gunslinger, who played in college for five years with the Ducks and Auburn. Nix also threw 45 touchdown passes in 2023, to just three interceptions. His numbers were just tremendous, and he also led Oregon to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Liberty.
Sutton seems to have paid close attention to what Nix was doing in college. The veteran wide receiver is also paying attention to what Nix has done at OTAs this spring and summer. Sutton is hoping Nix and the Broncos offense can put some fear in opposing teams this season.
“We want it to be a thing where people look at the Broncos on their schedule (and) they say, ‘This is going to be a game we HAVE to be on our Ps and Qs,’” Sutton added. “We know we have the talent. We know we have the coaches. We have any (and) everything we need.”
Sutton has had some strong seasons while he has been with the team. He is getting ready to play his seventh year in Colorado, but there has been some turmoil reported in the past between him and the franchise. Sutton was expected to be on the trade block this offseason, with the Steelers reportedly showing some interest at one point. That clearly didn't pan out.
In 2023, he finished the campaign with 772 receiving yards on 59 receptions. He had a career-high 10 touchdown receptions. His best overall season was in 2019, when he had more than 1,000 yards receiving. He also finished that campaign with a career-high in receptions, at 72.
If Denver is to have a strong season in 2024, it will need Sutton and Nix to play well together. The Broncos are trying to rebound from a disappointing year in 2023. The team finished 8-9 in the AFC West, tied with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The team will start to find some answers on offense, when team minicamp begins. It is scheduled to start June 11.
