That Bo Nix – he’s gonna be a handful, isn’t he?
That’s what Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has to be hoping.
Now, Payton put the best spin he possibly could on it on Thursday evening after Broncos’ OTAs (here in this story by ESPN Senior Writer Jeff Legwold, Sean Payton praises all three QBs competing for Broncos’ job), but you know Payton HAS to be hoping Nix outplays somewhat-journeyman and former Auburn signal-caller Jarrett Stidham and newly-acquired Zach Wilson, late of the New York Jets.
Nix, drafted No. 12 in the most recent NFL selection process (that’d be the NFL Freakin’ Draft) in April out of Oregon, almost feels like he’s been a pro for years. He’s been battle-tested in both the Southeastern Conference with Auburn against Nick Saban and Ed Orgeron-coached defenses and then, more recently, in the Pac-12 against just about everything that could be thrown against him.
Payton said all the right things, including referencing Nix’s obvious experience at the college level in Legwold’s story.
“Good, he’s farther along than most would be,” Payton said. “We’re talking about a player who’s played 61 games [in college]. He’s extremely smart. He’s picked it up very quickly.”
Is everyone getting a fair shake, though, Sean?
“We try to split up all the reps,” Payton said. “There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs. It’s kind of the orphan group, they’re all orphan dogs. They’ve come from somewhere, but they’re doing good. It’s a good room.
“We go by what we see. We try to get them as many reps as possible. We rotate. We’re rotating all of them right now. They’re all in a race to learn this system. Man, they’re doing well.”
It’s important to remember that Payton somewhat spoiled himself with Drew Brees in New Orleans for years, then had to endure a rocky-at-best relationship with Russell Wilson for a season last year.
Will Nix ultimately win this starting job?
It might depend on who is the most mentally tough through the summer, the battle, the preseason, training camp.
“A lot of it is dependent on the quarterback, his mental makeup,” Payton said.
But don’t look for Stidham or Wilson, for that matter, to just fold.
Stidham told reporters last week he’s in it to win the job, not to play a professor role.
“I’ve dealt with this before when I was in New England when we drafted (former first-round pick) Mac Jones,” Stidham said. “It’s a business, I totally understand it, but at the same time, I’m here to compete. I’m not going to just sit down and let someone else walk on in here. I’m going to work my butt off to get the job. I’m super excited about it.”
Look out. It’s on.
