ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Entering the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos‘ quarterback room, comprised of Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, is viewed around the NFL as one of the weaker rooms in the league.
In fact, ESPN’s Mike Clay ranked the Broncos’ quarterback group the fourth-worst in the NFL, only ahead of the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.
Denver’s three quarterback’s—specifically Stidham and Wilson, since Nix is a rookie—have a combined 13-24 record and have more interceptions than touchdowns in the NFL.
The architect and leader of that room, however, has a much different take on how the Broncos’ quarterbacks are shaking out.
“All three of [the quarterbacks] are doing well,” Sean Payton said on Thursday, after the Broncos’ sixth OTA practice. “Zach [Wilson] has done a good job. He’s picked things up, and of course ‘Stiddy’ [Jarrett Stidham] is probably the senior statesman, the veteran of the group, and he’s still young. We’re encouraged with that room.”
Payton doesn’t throw out compliments just to throw out compliments. Last year is a perfect example as the head coach wasn’t always singing the praises of then-starting quarterback Russell Wilson.
Payton’s compliments, praise and optimism aren’t something to be overlooked.
In fact, Stidham earned the praise during Thursday’s practice as the five-year veteran had the play of the day, connecting on a 55-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. during a team period.
Although Denver’s first-round pick didn’t have as flashy of a play during Thursday’s practice, Nix went toe-to-toe with Stidham and Wilson in terms of decision making, efficiency and ability to run the offense.
After practice, Payton went a step further with his praise for the rookie signal caller.
“He’s throwing the ball extremely well,” Payton said about Nix. “He’s doing really well. He’s picking it up. There’s a lot that’s going in [the offense].”
The head coach joked that since the media only watches one out of every three practices during the offseason, it’s difficult to catch the group up about Nix’s progress, but Payton’s continuing praise of Nix speaks volumes.
“It’s hard for me to catch you up like on a Netflix series,” Payton joked. “You guys watched one [episode], and then you missed three, and then you watched one and I’m trying to catch you up.”
During the two practices that have been open to the media, Nix hasn’t appeared lost, overwhelmed or confused like rookie quarterbacks can look when thrown into an NFL offense. In fact, the rookie has appeared as comfortable in the complex offense as the other two veteran quarterbacks.
All of that, along with Payton’s continuing praise, speaks volumes for where the 24-year-old rookie stands two weeks into OTAs.
