Until head coach Sean Payton names a starting quarterback, the three-man race between rookie Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson will be the most talked about position battle during training camp.
Throughout organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, each quarterback displayed traits that could make him a candidate to be the starter. Still, there’s more work to be done, as training camp and preseason games will give the coaching staff a better opportunity to evaluate which player gives Denver the best chance to win this fall.
With Broncos’ training camp three weeks away, here are cases for and against each quarterback based on what was seen during Denver’s offseason program.
Bo Nix
Case for: Whether it’s this season or next, Nix will be handed over the keys to the offense. Payton has never developed a rookie quarterback throughout his career, but he saw value in the former Auburn and Oregon standout to take him 12th overall, a move that was considered a reach at the time of the draft.
Since Nix has been in Denver, he has done nothing but impress his teammates and coaches. The Broncos have raved about Nix’s composure in the pocket and understanding of the playbook. Another noticeable trait from Nix during practices has been his ability to make plays outside of the pocket and quickly get the ball out of his hands.
Nix has moved around like a seasoned veteran, mainly because he was the most experienced quarterback in his draft class, starting in 61 career games–most all-time by a FBS quarterback. In addition to his experience level, Nix is known for being a good processor and being accurate with the football, as he is Oregon’s all-time leader in completion percentage (74.9%).
“I think with Bo being a young guy and a guy they took really high, I understand the politics of the game and everyone is rooting for him to be the guy,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. “I think he does a lot of things really well and has the ability to go out and have success early.”
Case against: Even though Nix has the experience, he is still a rookie and the NFL is a different beast compared to college. He will have a learning curve to overcome. Yes, the franchise is desperate to find a long term solution at quarterback. But given the current state of the team, it might be best for Nix to spend a few weeks as a backup, gain an even greater understanding of the system before taking over.
At the same time, one of the concerns about Nix’s game ahead of the draft was the lack of throwing the ball down the field due to Oregon’s offensive scheme. In 2023, 28.1% of Nix’s pass attempts were behind the line of scrimmage, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jarrett Stidham
Case for: At this point, Stidham has a slight edge over Nix. During practices, Stidham was efficient and occasionally made big plays down the field. More importantly, the former Patriots and Raiders signal caller has a better understanding of the offense since this is his second season in Payton’s scheme. “I’m not out there thinking as much, I’m just out there playing free and playing more confident, which is great,” Stidham said.
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The Broncos could view Stidham as someone who gives them the best chance to win a few games out the gate because of his knowledge of the offense and familiarity with the players.
Case against: When given the opportunity to be the starter, Stidham hasn’t set the world on fire. In four games, Stidham has a 1-3 record, while throwing for 1,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. After Stidham replaced Russell Wilson for the final two games of 2023, he totaled 496 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a quarterback rating of 31.1.
Zach Wilson
Case for: Out of the three, Wilson has the strongest arm. The former Jets quarterback can make a throw from anywhere on the field and has mobility to keep defenses honest. Perhaps Payton and the coaching staff can figure out a way to unlock the 24-year-old’s potential and turn his career around.
Case against: Wilson’s time in New York was a disaster, as he went from being a beacon of hope for the franchise, which selected him second overall in 2021, to being labeled as one of the biggest busts in NFL history. During Wilson’s three seasons with the Jets, he threw for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in 34 games (33 starts). Wilson has yet to throw for 10-plus touchdowns in a season.
After Wilson was traded to Denver in April, the issues he had with the Jets would occasionally pop up during practice. On the days Denver opened practice to the media, Wilson struggled with his decision-making. He would try to force throws that would lead to the ball getting picked off.
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