Renck: The bravado is much closer to coming to fruition than fiction. At the combine in February, Sean Payton stood at the dais, one eventually occupied by every NFL attending coach and general manager, and implied the Broncos were smarter than the competition at evaluating college quarterbacks. “I think we will be really good at this,” Payton said. “And I think to some degree, we’re glad that a lot of people aren’t.” After one preseason game was the Broncos coach right? Watching Bo Nix navigate his debut against the Colts with 15 completions, one touchdown, no sacks and no wide-eye panic, it raises the question, one not uttered much around these parts over the last eight seasons: Do the Broncos actually — and more specifically Payton — know what they are doing?
Keeler: Hey, Payton knows what he wants in a QB1. He knows how to get what he wants in a QB1. And Sunshine Sean knows he’ll burn bridges, villages, salary caps and anything within range of a V10-R flamethrower before settling for anything else. Russell Wilson’s ego rejected the transplant. Nix, Stidham and Zach Wilson know better. About halfway through Sunday’s preseason opener, I could see what Payton had cooking in his mind. Start Nix. Keep Steady Stidham ready in relief in case of emergency. Have Zach on hand in case one of the two in front of him happens to get kidnapped by Martians.
Renck: Here’s why I believe Nix can be the fix. Payton did not seek a quarterback that checks all the boxes. He sought one that checks all of his boxes. Nix gets rid of the ball quickly. He avoids sacks — which drove Payton bonkers about Russell Wilson. He doesn’t turn the ball over. He processes information quickly with a high football IQ and brings added mobility. Listen, I don’t know if Nix will pan out when he faces exotic blitzes, better competition and violent sacks, but I do know that Payton’s offense and vision for the quarterback give him a tremendous opportunity to succeed.
Keeler: Bo was a pleasant surprise against the Colts, first drive notwithstanding, not because he met the moment — he exceeded it. That said, it was an awfully low bar to clear. I think the biggest feather in Payton’s cap out of Sunday was that all three QBs in orange brought something positive to the table. Something … playable. Given injuries and general weirdness in this league, there’s a better-than-average chance you’ll wind up needing all three at some point.
Renck: Based on what we saw from Nix, this is my prediction on how Payton wants the next 10 days or so to unfold. Nix carries his momentum into practice with the first team, getting most of the reps. Then he delivers a solid performance against the Packers in roughly 25 snaps, showing the stage is not too big. This will clear the deck for Payton to announce him as the starter to a locker room that will believe he earned and deserves it. Payton has staked his reputation in Denver on Nix. He knew what he was looking for, and so far, it is fair to say he was right on the fit.
Keeler: You can fool a lot of folks, but you can’t fool an NFL vet. Especially an NFL lineman. Careers are too short, job security too fleeting. One of the hardest things to do is convince a locker room of grown men, who’ve struggled to win, that they oughta bust their backsides for a rookie QB who’s still lugging their equipment around and paying their dinner tabs. If Nix pulls that off, he’s one step closer to being the future. If Payton pulls this off, dude just might be half the genius he tells us he is.
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