JULY 8: Echoing previous reports on the subject, Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post confirms Nix could earn the No. 1 gig outright based on his training camp performances. Likewise, he notes Wilson is an underdog for the backup spot as things stand, although he adds the latter’s arm talent could still keep him in the mix to beat out Stidham and earn an extended period developing under Payton. The Broncos’ allotment of training camp and preseason reps under center will certainly be worth watching closely.
JULY 5: Sean Payton‘s second Broncos quarterback room features an interesting makeup, as the team has its 2023 backup (Jarrett Stidham) and a trade acquisition (Zach Wilson) joining this year’s sixth QB chosen (Bo Nix).
While the sixth QB taken in a draft sometimes stretches into Round 2 or Round 3, Nix was this year’s 12th overall pick. The Oregon and Auburn product is most likely going to be the Broncos’ starter at some point this season — perhaps in Week 1 — but Stidham fared best during Denver’s offseason program. Considering the team’s Russell Wilson backup played in Payton’s system last year, it is not too surprising he looked the best to start the three-way competition.
[RELATED: Broncos’ QB1 Job Nix’s To Lose?]
A scenario in which Nix struggles during training camp would stand to see one of the veterans receive the call for Week 1, but while the five-year college QB’s development is the central Broncos storyline, the team’s decision on which veteran passer to retain is also part of this competition. Regardless of how Nix performs during camp, 9News’ Mike Klis notes the Broncos will not go into the season with their first-rounder as the third-string quarterback.
Nix’s floor being QB2 pits Stidham and Wilson against each other. So far, Wilson is noticeably behind. The former Jets franchise-QB hopeful exited minicamp with ground to cover for the backup job. Although Wilson may have more arm talent than the other two passers in Denver’s competition, his erratic New York stay undercuts this part of his game. Stidham probably offers a higher floor by comparison, though bridge option represents the best-case scenario for the sixth-year arm this season.
Nix having set the record for most starts by a Division I-FBS quarterback (61) and joining Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. in going into an age-24 season makes him an illogical third-stringer, and Payton’s past carrying two QBs points to the team’s upcoming roster call being a Stidham-or-Wilson decision. The Broncos will obviously focus their training camp around Nix reps as well. Klis also viewed Stidham as the team’s most consistent QB during the offseason program, though training camp and the preseason will obviously reveal more about the passers’ 2024 capabilities.
Money will be a factor, with just $1MM of Stidham’s $4.49MM base salary guaranteed. Even so, the Broncos — thanks to an agreement with the Jets to split Wilson’s 2024 pay — will probably not base this decision solely around finances. It would cost the team only $2.76MM if Wilson is the odd man out, while a Stidham cut would cost $2MM. Though, the Broncos would save $5MM by releasing Stidham. Wilson would also need to pass through waivers if cut, whereas Stidham is a vested veteran.
The Broncos have not given the keys to a rookie quarterback since John Elway 41 years ago. Drew Lock began the 2019 season on IR, while Trevor Siemian beat out Paxton Lynch for the 2016 job. Lynch was the team’s top backup to start that season, however, with trade acquisition Mark Sanchez being released before Week 1. Tim Tebow and Jay Cutler did not start games until late in their rookie seasons. Tebow began his rookie season as a third-stringer — behind Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn — but Nix is not viewed as the kind of raw prospect the popular left-hander was 14 years ago.
Nix would represent a course change, but the Broncos certainly need one given how their passers have fared since Peyton Manning‘s retirement.
The Zach Wilson trade was perplexing to say the least. There was virtually no chance he would be better than Stidham by roster cut day considering Stidhams experience with Payton and Wilson’s struggles with football intelligence, especially being dropped in a new system. Plus, they knew they were likely to draft a QB. So unless they plan on having 3 QB’s on the roster, I don’t understand the trade at all.
I understand some would say, and I think this was the Broncos logic, that it was worth the risk to trade a late draft pick for Wilson and pay his salary for the hopes he could be great. He obviously wasn’t in a great situation in NY and maybe Sean could resurrect his career. But this team is short on draft picks, salary cap, and they would just be better off giving more reps to Nix and saving the pick/salary. I understand the logic, but really can’t see a scenario in which it makes the Broncos better.
If they keep 3 QB’s, developed Wilson as QB 3 this year, and hope he can be a backup for you next year (and you don’t know how good he could be with Sean Payton), it could be an okay move.
Hard pass for me tho. Give the reps to Nix, save the pick, salary, and roster spot.
I’d guess that they didn’t want to look desperate, just in case they decided to trade.
Now they can call up practice squad QBs, I’d imagine Wilson heads there. How many more starts do you need from Wilson to realize he isn’t an NFL QB?
Yeah, that pick could have been used in a better spot methinks to grab a different position. Of course, that’s also what I thought about Nix. I thought that the best move for Denver was a trade back, and then maybe using a later, less expensive pick on a QB if they still felt the need to. They needed picks, and several teams tried to move up in that area (like the Rams, who usually are trying to move around and are seem always open for a call in general). Denver could have replenished a few picks, and even possibly remained in the first round while doing so.
Having a record cap charge this year and next kind of makes those rookie picks more important to start. Moreover, there were a few QBs available late who would have been higher in another draft, and a host of good receivers and linemen available that could have improved the team. Maybe they could have avoided the Sutton standoff, and/or planned for the last year of the Bolles deal next year. Instead, they grabbed the fifth drafted QB. If Nix were a slam dunk superstar this could be different, but I’m not sure that he is.
Nix will probably have a better career than Rattler, who was the next QB to go, given purely how high he was drafted. The Saints also look to be trending worse offensively with a bad coach who likely won’t make it another year after this one. I still would have preferred to see Denver trade back, recoup picks, take a good position player, and then take Rattler later. It would have built up picks, maybe netted a replacement starter for some outgoing cogs, and still gotten them a QB who could possibly start the year behind Stidham when the season begins. I don’t think that the age actually matters at all for the modern QB. Injuries, maybe. But not age. So in that regard, I think that Nix’s experience is a plus. In any case, it’s done now; all that remains to be seen is whether Nix will light it up, which would be great for Denver with that fifth year option, or if Payton will get another shot if he doesn’t.
If you have Stidham and Wilson, what’s the point of taking Rattler? Go with Wilson if you want a high upside longshot. Nix will be starting unless he gets hurt.
I agree. My point is that if they really wanted someone else after trading back, they could have had the next QB (Rattler) with a lower pick. Essentially I am saying that they could have traded back and still gotten a QB.
I guess I see Rattler as another Malik Willis or Matt Corral. I wouldn’t call drafting him getting a QB.
Sean Payton is an air head.
Sean Payton is a genius.
He is preparing for the 18 game year with the expanded roster. He will have a 2nd overall pick as his emergency salvation and not a Plumlee, Slovis, Paddock, or Annexstad.
Sean Payton is playing chess while 2/3 of the rest of the NFL coaches are playing checkers. Except for Josh McDaniels, last year he was playing Tiddlywinks.
Geniuses make it to more than 1 super bowl…
I guess you have to have some kind of measuring stick?
John Madden changed and developed the NFL in ways we may never fully understand, one Super Bowl. John Fox took the Panthers and Broncos to the Super Bowl but Tony Dungy who only went to one with the Colts seems to get more credit. Dick Vermeil, George Seifert, Tom Flores, all have multiple Super Bowls and only Flores is in the HOF. Dan Reeves, Marv Levy, and Bud Grant all have four appearances, and they get zero love for their football prowess’s. Tom Laundry has five to his credit and yet he seems to be most famous for getting fired on CNN.
Payton is somewhat delusional about certain things, but he’s not an airhead. The specifics of game planning and running the team are strengths of his, but he hasn’t seemed to have done well in Denver with his personnel input. I doubt that Paton makes the Wilson move without Payton’s insistence, especially since Payton now has more say over final roster decisions than Paton does.
Or maybe the Paton versus Payton thing just adds difficulty, who knows.
Though, the Broncos would save $5MM by releasing Stidham.
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I’m not the grammar police, but there is no comma after “Though”. I don’t usually comment, maybe even never comment, but that setup feels like I am tripping over a rock.
I don’t see anywhere in the article where it says that they will not carry three QBs. I see a sentence speculating that Payton hasn’t historically carried three, but no commitment. Only commitment seems to be that Nix won’t be #3.
I understand that, I’m just saying idk if trading a pick, the salary, and a roster spot is worth Zach. I’d guess he’s out of the NFL in 2-3 years.
It’s a late round pick swap and $2.5 million. In terms of resources, they’ve spent a rounding error on him.
I’ve seen this movie before… 2010, Broncos trade for Brady Quinn to compete with Kyle Orton, then draft Tim Tebow, Quinn is on the roster for two years and never plays… just replace, Quinn with Wilson
Steelers fans wonder why I’m skeptical of Russell Wilson.
The Broncos decided that eating the biggest cap **** sandwich ever AND turning to this cluster**** of a QB room was still better than keeping Wilson.
Maybe, just maybe they know something.
Though from all reports, Nix has looked good during camp. Whereas Williams has looked terrible, and New England and Minnesota have had to change the mechanics of both Maye and McCarthy’s. I think the broncos will be more competitive then what move people predict.
Maybe the Broncos are the issue..
I think the issue was potentially that Russell told them behind the scenes that he planned to retire if not released.
Therefore it would be a why-not to cut him and get that little kickback of the pro rated portion of the salary at least