How does Bo Nix fit with Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos?

Bo Nix & Sean Payton

It’s easy to see why Sean Payton would enjoy working with Bo Nix. Watch some Michael Thomas highlights and you’ll see plenty of plays similar to what I showed you above.

Nix is precise underneath. He can hunt matchups and feed his playmakers. He’s capable in the intermediate areas of the field, but the further he gets from the line of scrimmage, the less production you expect out of him.

Sacks were, arguably, the Broncos’ biggest problem in 2023. Nix works on-time and that should reduce Denver’s sacks in 2024. That should keep the offense on track and leave the running game viable more often than it was last year.

The transition to the NFL might not be smooth, though. The speed of the game changes. The windows get smaller.

I have three major concerns regarding his transition.

First, NFL cornerbacks press wide receivers far more than they do in college. If a receiver doesn’t get a free release, the timing of quick routes can get wonky. The rhythm can be thrown off.

The second concern is related. Can Nix threaten defenses enough deep to make life easy underneath? Nix doesn’t need to turn into Ben Roethlisberger, but he’s going to need to take advantage when a wide receiver comes free deep. If not, cornerbacks can hunt interceptions underneath.

Finally, does Denver have the playmakers to win one-on-one matchups? Much of what Nix does (and Payton, too) is manufacture one-on-one matchups using scheme or leverage. It won’t be Nix’s fault if Denver’s weapons can’t win for him, but it would put him in difficult situations and that’s the last thing you want for a rookie quarterback.

Payton will build an offense around Nix. He knows how to highlight his strengths. I expect read options, RPOs and quick game. Nix is ready to operate simple concepts, and he should be sharp enough to buy time until he’s ready to carry a full offense on his shoulders in the enxt few years.

That’s the game for rookie quarterbacks: avoid failure long enough to develop into a complete quarterback. Nix should have no trouble buying that time, especially with Payton at his side.

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