Sean Keeler: It took about 16 seconds for the Bo Nix haters to come crashing through the front door of Dove Valley like it was a Black Friday. The fumes have barely faded on the 2024 draft, and at least one major betting service on Monday listed the Broncos’ latest franchise QB lottery ticket as its heavy favorite to be “most likely rookie QB to be benched first.” Which presumes, of course, that he’s the Broncos’ starter right out of the gate. I don’t know if Sean Payton’s QB room is much better than eight days ago, but it’s a heck of a lot more interesting. With apologies to our good pal Jarrett Stidham, this QB1 derby is probably going to come down to a pair of 24-year-olds in Nix and Jets escapee Zach Wilson. Of those two, which one do you think winds up getting the keys to the car when the Broncos take the field in Week 1?
Troy Renck: Bo Nix is the Fix. He played with Bo Jackson at Auburn and succeeded Dan Fouts at Oregon. (I kid because I care.) But, Nix started 61 college games, an FBS record that will never be broken. I think we can all agree Nix was overdrafted, ranking somewhere between the 25th and 45th best prospect. That is a red flag. Yet, Payton identified him as the guy, so I am inclined to trust his vision since his Hall of Fame legacy is on the line. Zach Wilson is a fascinating flier. Nix is the future. If he looks competent in camp, Nix starts Day 1.
Keeler: Me? I’d give Nix every chance to grab the QB1 slot from the second he gets his key card. Why delay the inevitable? I’m just not sure Payton will. Sunshine Sean’s never drafted a rookie QB in the first round before. He’s only drafted four, period, as an NFL coach. And since what little precedent we have is all we’ve got to go on, that precedent is also why I think it might be Wilson or Stidham at the outset. Of those four rookie QBs taken by Payton, only one ever saw the field as a rookie: ex-Notre Dame standout Ian Book, taken by the Saints in the fourth round in ’21. Book got the call at QB1 in Week 15, promptly led New Orleans to a 20-3 humbling by the Dolphins … and hasn’t started an NFL game since. Nix can probably handle the deep end of the pool. But I’d expect this coaching staff to have him wade in shallower waters first.
Renck: As someone who has covered multiple American Idol quarterback competitions, they don’t deliver hits. They do not work. It forces the coaching staff to divide the reps, and in some cases, it divides the team. Payton should know after the mandatory minicamp who the starter is, and give that player the most reps in August. I am betting on Nix because the clock is ticking on Payton to turn this franchise around with his handpicked quarterback.
Keeler: Having watched Nix shred Deion Sanders and the CU Buffs up close and personal last fall, I can see what Sunshine Sean digs about the young man. He’s also old (24) for a rookie, so why not start the clock? Actually, I’ll tell you why: Precedent. Paxton Lynch didn’t start until Week 5 as a rookie. Tim Tebow didn’t start until Week 15. Jay Cutler didn’t start until Week 13. Conventional wisdom says Zach Wilson gets the first start for 2024, assuming he’s healthy. Mind you, conventional wisdom also says you don’t open your season with an onside kick at home. Buckle up. This could get weird.
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Renck: Orange is the New Zach Wilson has supreme arm talent. He is worth a look. But he was also a COVID quarterback. When has he been good in college or the NFL other than the COVID season against undermanned competition with no crowds? Also, are you sure Wilson is going to respond to Payton’s needling and hard coaching? I am not. Bo Nix is the Fix, starting in the opener.
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