While Sean Payton effectively admitted he participated in a smokescreen effort regarding the Broncos‘ interest in trading up for a quarterback, the team was most closely tied to Bo Nix during the draft run-up. That did not end up costing the Broncos, who selected the Oregon prospect at No. 12. But the team also did its homework on other passers.
We heard before the draft that J.J. McCarthy trekked to Denver and Nix threw for Broncos brass in Eugene, but SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the Broncos did meet with Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler before the draft. Maye proved to be well out of Denver’s price range, as New England turned down two offers — from the Giants and Vikings — that included 2025 first-round picks. Ticketed to be Derek Carr‘s backup in New Orleans, Rattler did not go off the board until Round 5.
[RELATED: Assessing Bo Nix’s Prospect Profile]
Multiple reports pointed to the Broncos being interested in making an aggressive move up the board for a passer; McCarthy, who met with the Broncos on a “30” visit, was mentioned as a target. It turns out Broncos-Nix connections early this offseason doubled as prescient reports. The five-year college starter will likely be given the keys early in his rookie season, with ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano mentioning during a recent TV appearance the recent Pac-12 star is expected to “play right away.”
Broncos GM George Paton scouted Nix at four Oregon games but did not share his views with Payton, per Breer, with an aim toward the Super Bowl-winning HC — and the current Broncos top decision-maker — reaching his own conclusions on the prospect. Payton said post-draft Broncos brass viewed the Vikings as being McCarthy fans and the Raiders eyeing Michael Penix Jr. The Broncos did carry some fear, especially after the Falcons chose Penix at No. 8, the Raiders would leapfrog them for Nix, Breer adds. The QB-needy Raiders’ presence at No. 13 influenced the Broncos to stay put and make a pick many have labeled a reach.
The Raiders were, in fact, interested in Penix — more so than Nix or McCarthy — according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. After a second straight offseason of extensive work on QB draft prospects, the Raiders did not add a high-value pick at the position. As the Raiders regroup around Gardner Minshew, the Broncos do not have a clear hurdle in Nix’s path to seeing action early. Denver has Jarrett Stidham as a placeholder and took a flier on Zach Wilson before passing on the ex-Jet’s fifth-year option. Barring something unexpected, it would surprise if Nix is not Denver’s starter early this season.
Although QBs coach Davis Webb ran Nix’s workout, Breer adds the Paton-Payton tandem — along with ownership — did not reveal to other members of the team’s staff where Nix stood on the team’s board. It is believed the Broncos viewed Nix as this draft’s third-best QB prospect. Most do not agree with that placement, and longtime draft analyst Todd McShay said during an appearance on The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo Podcast (h/t the New York Post) at least 10 NFL evaluators he spoke to did not have a first-round grade on Nix. The Broncos are high on Nix’s accuracy, with their research effort removing QB prospects’ screens and short routes to reveal a player who still ranked as one of Division I-FBS’ most precise passers when those dumpoffs are taken out of the equation.
Since Peyton Manning‘s retirement, the Broncos have used two first-round picks on QBs (Nix, Paxton Lynch) and one second-rounder (Drew Lock) on the position. The team made three trades for starters, obtaining Joe Flacco (2019), Teddy Bridgewater (2021) and Russell Wilson (2022), while signing Case Keenum (two years, $36MM) in 2018. Nothing has worked for the NFL’s only franchise to see a QB retire following a Super Bowl win. That has occurred twice in Denver, and the team has encountered a much tougher journey replacing Manning than John Elway.
Nix now holds the keys to the Broncos’ effort to pick up the pieces post-Russell Wilson, whose $85MM dead money number will cut into Denver’s ability to capitalize on the No. 12 pick’s rookie contract. Although Payton led the effort in pointing Drew Brees to the Hall of Fame and helping develop Tony Romo in Dallas, grooming a first-round pick from scratch will be new territory. With Wilson’s contract quickly becoming an albatross, the Broncos did not have much of a choice but to turn back to the draft.
Wow, Sean Payton already making excuses. That’s a new record for him, usually he waits until after the season is over for his excuses. Sorry Broncos fans.
I love this pick.
– Raider fan
So does this mean that picking Nix was done out of desperation?
So…because the Raiders needed a quarterback, Denver overdrafted one? Good job, I suppose…
He showed them.
I think Bo Nix will surprise people… he played in a system that Peyton likes and he has played a lot of football at a high level in college. Was it a reach ?
Every quarterback taken is a reach to some degree so I would just sit back and let him grow into that offense and see how it goes…he certainly couldn’t be any worse than all of the quarterback decisions the Broncos have made in the last 5 to 8 years
As the kids say this is pure copium from Payton.
Sounds like the Raiders were “actively involved” in making it seem like they might leapfrog the Broncos…Ol’ Stink Eyes is such a D-canoe.
I’d call that a bit of a smokescreen by the Raiders. The got the Broncos to draft Nix so that they could trade Bower.
Nix will be fine, lots of experience in college, plus the fact his dad is a high school coach just adds to his knowledge of the game. He will be ready when the rest of the pucks spare still on training wheels.
News flash: Tom Brady had 6th round grade. Brock Purdy 7th. Sam Darnold was a can’t miss prospect. None of these guys know for sure who will pan out. 4 years from now when three of these QBs don’t have their 5th year option picked up, we can look back at this article and laugh.
Who had Sam Darnold as a can’t miss prospect? By the time he came out, there were plenty of questions about him, mainly that he was a turnover machine, something that’s haunted him since he’s hit the league.
Bo Nix started five years, including two in a pro system where he completed 75% of his passes. He can even run a little bit. Drew Brees on wheels. Payton will probably be happy with his purchase.
Oregon does not run a pro style system. Stop it.
Chase Daniels disagrees with you, and so do I.
The Broncos are a disaster. Patton will get fired this year as the last scapegoat. Payton will shortly follow. He just walked into a bad situation. Maybe he gets another shot after this is over, maybe not. We’ll see.
Definitely a bad situation with all those squandered first round draft picks (not to mention the second on Payton himself) and the lack of cap space.
Not sure, I don’t like Payton at all (Mr Bountygate, win at the expense of players’ health, he’s a nasty guy) but he’s a capable coach. 8-8 this season and another season is what is on the cards.