Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham, and Broncos’ QB depth chart, defined

There was lots of change on the quarterback place for the Denver Broncos in 2024. In got here rookie first-round choose Bo Nix and beleaguered former first-round choose Zach Wilson; out went former Tremendous Bowl champion Russell Wilson. The lone holdover, Jarrett Stidham, was the Broncos’ beginning quarterback of their remaining two video games final season.

As with every scenario involving a rookie quarterback, there’ll doubtless be discuss of a contest and all that heading into coaching camp. Nevertheless, given the Broncos long term of unhealthy seasons, we could also be protected to imagine Bo Nix shall be beginning sooner moderately than later.

Will Bo Nix land on the high of the Broncos depth chart?

Right here is the place I predict the Broncos depth chart lands on Week 1 and why I feel every participant is poised to safe their respective spots on the positional depth chart.

QB1. Bo Nix

A perennial dropping staff over the past eight season isn’t going to draft a quarterback twelfth total and have him sit for a 12 months. That is Bo Nix’s time to shine… or flop.

All of the rumors and experiences forward of the 2024 NFL Draft appeared to heart across the Broncos being the proper match for Nix, however most analysts had him because the fifth or sixth finest quarterback within the draft. That will recommend he could be a late first or early second-round choose at finest. Nevertheless, the run on quarterbacks within the high 10 compelled Denver’s hand. Many referred to as it a horrible attain, however think about the Broncos quarterback scenario proper now had they risked dropping out on Nix by taking part in the worth recreation? It will not be good to say the least.

Regardless of being the sixth quarterback taken within the draft, Nix was the No. 3 man on the Broncos’ board all alongside they usually completely love the child.

“I’d say, you’ll be able to really feel his 61 video games performed in faculty,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi mentioned of Nix after necessary minicamp in mid-June. “With expertise, a calmness comes together with it. So he definitely doesn’t really feel like a rookie. He’s studying a brand-new system, so whether or not you’re a veteran or a rookie coming in, that’s widespread to all these individuals. He has seen quite a bit and doesn’t make the identical mistake twice fairly often. There’s a maturity stage. I feel once you draft a man who’s just a little bit older, you hope that that comes with it, however he’s definitely proven that.”

Given the quantity of video games Nix has performed and his age, it’s unlikely Denver drafted him to sit down for a 12 months. They want a beginning quarterback now.

Zach Wilson has been within the league for 3 seasons already and is simply six months older than rookie Bo Nix. It simply wouldn’t make sense for Bo Nix to not begin Week 1. If he doesn’t, then the Broncos’ draft class is in critical doubt proper out of the gate contemplating how little draft capital that they had within the first two days of this 12 months’s draft.

QB2. Zach Wilson

When Denver traded for Zach Wilson, I liked the thought of bringing in a undertaking like him to probably salvage his profession. As a high draft picks, the pedigree is there and coaches will simply must work on bringing again the arrogance.

The previous No. 2 total choose by the New York Jets has struggled to stay as much as his draft standing with only a 57% completion price and 6,293 yards with 23 touchdowns in opposition to 25 interceptions in his three-year profession. It didn’t assist that he was drafted by the Jets, who’ve struggled — just like the Broncos — to area a aggressive soccer staff in recent times.

If he might get a couple of years beneath a training workers led by Sean Payton, I might see his later profession being revitalized for a man like Wilson.

QB3. Jarrett Stidham

On the finish of the day, I do assume Jarrett Stidham will doubtless be the higher possibility because the Week 1 backup to Bo Nix. Nevertheless, attributable to his contract and Wilson’s draft pedigree, I feel he finally ends up the odd man out.

The primary motive I feel Wilson finally ends up beating out Stidham is on the cash aspect of issues. Each he and Wilson are beneath contract only for this 12 months, however Wilson’s cap quantity is simply $2.7 million in comparison with Stidham’s $7 million. From a pure numbers standpoint, it will seem to be if they’re considerably shut for that backup spot that Wilson will get the nod attributable to his contract and his draft pedigree.

I like Stidham as a backup quite a bit, and if he finally ends up beating out Wilson then I cannot be unhappy about that.

What to anticipate from a Bo Nix-led Broncos staff in 2024

There was a motive why many draft analysts had Bo Nix pegged as a high prospect for Sean Payton and his offensive system. The 2 appeared to be an ideal match for what Nix excels at and what Payton desires to do in his offense. We must also keep in mind that Payton had a damaged Russell Wilson in prime place to problem for a playoff run late final season earlier than these wheels lastly got here off, so maybe the ceiling ought to even be raised a bit with a rookie quarterback on the helm.

As somebody who watched lots of movie on the Broncos final 12 months, Wilson left lots of large performs on the market. If Nix can start seeing only a fraction of these wide-open receivers, then this offense is poised to make a good leap ahead.

Clearly as a fan, I’ll be hoping for that end result, however there shall be rising pains — the sort that at all times include a first-year beginning quarterback. Denver might want to keep an excellent protection and a robust speeding assault for Nix to excel and lead this staff to the playoffs this season.