Broncos coach Sean Payton on drafting Bo Nix: 'When you watch him, it's pretty calming'

In the lead up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Broncos’ brass made it clear that its first-round pick was a decision it had to get right following an offseason shakeup that included the release of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Denver went on to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 overall pick on Thursday night, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton detailed why he believes Nix is the ideal fit for his offense.

“Payton attested to his remarkable intelligence and proficiency on Thursday night, as per the team transcript. He said, ‘He handled numerous protections impressively. Observing him is quite reassuring as he’s highly efficient. It’s not only due to the [underneath throws]; you can see an abundance of NFL throws in their offense.'”

At 24 years old, Nix is entering the NFL with more experience than most quarterback prospects, thanks to his 61 game starts throughout his five seasons at Oregon and Auburn. His final year in Eugene was particularly impressive, racking up 4,508 passing yards and 45 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. This led to a 77.4 completion percentage and earned him a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Producing such numbers in a quick-strike offense similar to that of Payton’s made Nix all the more intriguing for Denver. But in a top-heavy draft that saw five QBs selected in front of Nix — including the mock-busting selection of Michael Penix Jr. to Atlanta — getting the chance to select him was a frenzied proposition.

“Things got a bit chaotic for a moment,” said Payton, referring to the events preceding Denver’s choice of Nix.

According to Payton, it was consistently unsettling trying to keep Nix within Denver’s sights leading up to Thursday night.

“As soon as we determined our target, every instance of NFL Network analyst Chase Daniel or ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky commenting ‘This is perfect!’ made me want to silence them,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, that’s beyond our control. I believe that frequently, the offense is molded around the player. We have been shaping our strategy for years based on what former QB Drew Brees did. However, when he was not the starting quarterback, it was either Teddy Bridgewater or Jameis Winston. So, it wasn’t a case of a player fitting into our system; let’s imagine it was a different quarterback. We want the best player. We tried our hardest to divert attention to other players and strategies. It’s a challenge at times, because you do not want to broadcast your preferred player. But I saw what you guys saw. It made me and general manager George Paton wince. We would exclaim, ‘Ah!’ These are things that are beyond our control.”

Nix is now set to be the first first-round rookie QB Payton will have under his wing, but he will have plenty of competition in Denver. Zach Wilson was acquired leading up to the draft, and the former No. 2 overall pick could very well thrive with a change of scenery and under a QB guru in Payton. Jarrett Stidham also remains in the room after he was handed the starting reins last season when Russell Wilson was benched.

The franchise’s investment in Nix is significant as they are striving to rapidly move on from the Russell Wilson era. Coincidentally, the Broncos landed the perfect QB prospect for a head coach with a history of NFL triumph. Yet, Payton understands that this decision is just one of many that could potentially lead to similar success for Denver.

“Though mentoring a first-round rookie QB is thrilling, it’s crucial to have solid quarterback performance,” said Payton. “I firmly believe that good defense and a strong running game are the two main factors supporting this. In simpler terms, if you’re a quarterback struggling with ball running or stopping the opponent, your job becomes extremely challenging. However, if you’re backed by a good defense and an effective running game, your role becomes considerably more manageable.”