HUGE CHAOS: Bo Nix Era in Broncos Justified or Desperation?

Although it is not a consensus opinion, there is a certain group of Denver Broncos supporters who are more than ready for the Bo Nix era. However, the question is whether these views are based on logic or passion.

To begin, it is important to note that the opinion of Bo Nix, the new quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is divided among fans of the team as well as those who are not affiliated with the team.

Despite the fact that some individuals, such as Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network, Mark Schlereth, a former quarterback for the Broncos, and Nick Saban, a legendary college coach, have expressed their admiration for the young quarterback, others, such as draft expert Mel Kiper (and pretty much anyone else filling a similar role), have expressed their disapproval of both the pick and Nix’s overall performance and potential.

The same can be said for fans of the Broncos, with some of them complaining about the decision in the same way that an ordinary Jets fan would, while others are ecstatic that the team has finally found someone that they can grow into a great franchise player.

It is the latter that will be the subject of discussion in this essay, because, as was indicated earlier, Nix has been subjected to considerable criticism. To what extent does the optimism of those who disagree with that story stem from reason or from delusion?

The reality is that it most likely falls somewhere in the middle, and in order to comprehend why fans might be so enthusiastic about a selection that has been subjected to such severe criticism, it is essential to have an understanding of the struggles that the Broncos have encountered in relation to the quarterback position.

Before the 2016 season, Peyton Manning announced his retirement, and since then, the team has gone through more quarterbacks than a fat guy would go through slices in a queue at a pizza buffet. To be more specific, since Manning put up his cleats, the Broncos have featured thirteen different players in the starting lineup as quarterback for the franchise.

Give it some thought. Fans had the highest of highs with the best QB in the game for four years and have subsequently endured nothing but painful withdrawal. The closest the team came to anything like solid QB play was three ordinary-to-above average seasons from Trevor Siemian, Teddy Bridgewater, and Russell Wilson. To be fair, Drew Lock showed promise in limited starts his first season, but he face planted as a full-time starter.

So can anyone really blame anyone Broncos Country residents for being perhaps a touch TOO optimistic?

Imagine just finishing a hard, strenuous, unpleasant triathlon and are dying of thirst and hunger…are you really going to complain about whatever food and drink is offered to you? No, you are going to be delighted just to be putting calories in your body.

And the same applies with Bo Nix.

Sure, there may be a considerable gap, at least on paper, between Caleb Williams and Nix, but what Nix represents to Broncos supporters is hope. Is hope and desperation related at times? Yes. Yet, while Broncos Country is, in fact, anxious for solid, winning QB play, that doesn’t necessarily mean excitement over Nix is unjustified. Despite what naysayers want to say.

The primary critiques against Nix seem to be the following:

He’s 24 years old and may have already reached his potential
His stats are exaggerated by easy throws and bad opponent defenses
He was not good at Auburn, so was it simply the Oregon system?
His arm strength is limited
Let’s dissect some of that.

24 years of age is not old. Some QBs mature later than others, and the Auburn system Nix played under just wasn’t a fit for him. Oregon played to his strengths, and that is what Sean Payton is known for. Not to make “that” presumption, but Drew Brees was average to above average with San Diego. Brees transformed him into a star. Sometimes it’s just about the fit.

As for his stats, well, he made some easy throws. He also made difficult throws. Focusing on the latter is cherry picking. The guy made some challenging throws. And yeah, while no team in the PAC-12 is the Steel Curtain reincarnated, it’s not like he’s playing against high schoolchildren. For instance, Utah was a top-15 defense in 2023, and Nix took them apart. And regardless of the system/opposition, 77% completion, 45 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions is darn outstanding. Don’t knock execution.

Yes, he was poor at best at Auburn. Who cares? Joe Burrow couldn’t crack the starting rotation at Ohio State. Ryan Tannehill was a borderline flop with the Dolphins and evolved into a legitimate starter with the Titans. Sometimes a change of scenery/scheme is just what a guy needs.

Arm strength? Give me a break. It’s like saying the golfer who can drive off the tee the furthest is the best, yet last I checked, Bryson DeChambeau isn’t collecting many majors. Last I looked, Greg Maddux is still one of the finest pitchers of all time ahead of several fast ball specialists. Accuracy and decision making overcomes “strength” every time. Let Schlereth explain it better:

“When you watch him, he is on time and on target. And I’ve said this before, you cannot be on target if you’re not on time. If you’re not on time with the football, you won’t be on target. And he analyzes defenses, and he throws it to a location where his guys can catch it beneath or intermediately and turn and go. Like that’s what you want. So, yeah, there are a lot of things that I understand why, and I thought he had the greatest, the quickest release, and he was the most accurate underneath, which is where the game in the NFL is played these days.”

Don’t think too hard about it. This was one of the top QBs in college football the last couple of years, a Heisman finalist, and he led the #1 offense in the country. Nitpick his game all you want, the dude can produce.

On the other hand, are there valid concerns that he can be “the guy”? Are there valid concerns that his ceiling might just be Alex Smith and no higher? Sure. Is there any real method to debunk any of the critiques about his potential? Of course not.

So sure, this is very much a wait-and-see issue. Yes, this is a crowd so desperate for QB success, it’s prepared to overlook certain shortcomings and genuine criticisms. Yet, it’s also not a fanbase that is ignorant. It’s not one who will attempt and transform someone like Kellen Mond into a superstar. Nix has his faults, certainly, but so does any QB in this draft.

And guess what? The organization can only afford to tread water without a legitimate QB option before the stadium becomes a ghost town. The 2025 Draft is on paper poorer than this one, and Sean Payton isn’t going to tank for the sake of Shedeur Sanders. He’d rather take a chance on Nix, and if he doesn’t work out, maybe he has a chance at Arch Manning in 2026.

But based on Payton’s comments, and this is a guy who knows QBs far better than just about any pundit spewing out criticisms, Nix isn’t just a player he took for the purpose of taking him and appeasing the fan base. He’s a guy he really, REALLY likes and honestly believes he is the QB of the future for the Broncos.

There is undoubtedly rationality that lurks inside the fan optimism in respect to Nix. And is there a sense of despair as well? You damn well better believe it. Yet, this is still the most potential QB prospect the organization has seen since…who knows how long? Elway? Maybe that’s a ludicrous statement. Maybe this writer is drinking the Kool-Aid a little too fast…and adding a little too much alcohol. But guess what? So is Sean Payton.

And given this weekend is the Kentucky Derby, that’s a horse I’m willing to bet on.