Insider Challenges Broncos to Build Around ‘Dynamic’ $18 Million QB

While insiders like Moton might think Nix is a player to build around, the Broncos might not actually feel that way yet.

Commanders, Broncos Had Different Draft Priorities

The offseason and the 2025 NFL draft kind of showed us exactly how the Broncos and Commanders view their young quarterbacks.

The Commanders went crazy trying to build an offense around Daniels despite having maximum needs on defense. They traded for a Pro Bowl left offensive tackle in Laremy Tunsil and traded for a Pro Bowl wide receiver in Deebo Samuel. Then, they drafted Oregon offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round — a player who could be a plug and play starter at right tackle or one of the guards spots in the opener.

The Broncos, already possessing arguably the NFL’s best defense, had maximum needs on offense … and still drafted another defensive player in the first round with Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron at No. 20 overall.

While the difference might just be in that the Commanders already view themselves as Super Bowl contenders and the Broncos see themselves as still being a few years away, it’s not nothing they didn’t think Nix-first in the draft and offseason.

Broncos Getting Unexpected Value Out of Nix

In the most binary, capitalistic terms possible, Nix has already saved the Broncos a ton of money.

Denver is on track to get at least 3 years of Nix starting every game on a cut rate deal with his 4-year, $18.6 million rookie contract — savings that essentially negate the $85 million dead cap hit over the 2024 and 2025 seasons from the Russell Wilson contract.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon put Nix on his list of the NFL’s “Most Underpaid Players” on March 28.

“This one’s simple,” Gagnon wrote. “Nix is already a steady franchise quarterback and is on track to become a star at the sport’s most critical position. Yet 38 quarterbacks have higher salaries than the 2024 No. 12 overall pick at $4.7 million per season.”