Sean Payton on Broncos' QB competition between Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson: 'They're all orphaned dogs' 

A three-way competition is underway for the starting quarterback position in Denver.

A pair of first-round picks exists, one of which is a rookie. The two “veterans” tally a total of 37 starts in seven seasons. A second opportunity and a first impression are present.

There are myriad storylines, plenty of possibilities and a spring and summer ahead for Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson to find a home as the leader of Sean Payton’s Broncos offense.

“Think of it as an orphan group,” Payton stated on Friday. “All the dogs here are orphans. They all have a past, but they’re adjusting well. It’s a pleasant space.”

The Broncos continue their relentless pursuit for a franchise quarterback into 2024, a search that has been ongoing since Peyton Manning’s retirement after the 2015 season. This was also the last time the franchise reached the playoffs, and it ended with a Super Bowl victory. The term “orphaned dogs” isn’t typically used, but it seems somewhat appropriate in this context as none of the three QB1 contenders that Manning left behind would likely be leading the pack for a starting position on most other teams in 2024. However, these are the players that the Broncos have managed to gather, and a contest for the top spot is in progress.

“Each of my quarterbacks comes from diverse systems,” Payton explained, highlighting the varying levels of experience and expected progress. “One is transitioning from college, another has experienced two or three NFL systems, and the last one has worked within a single system. They are all striving to master this system. Judging from what you’ve seen at practice, I’d say they’re doing quite well.”

Stidham is the oldest of Payton’s band of ragamuffins, but still just 27 years old. A 2019 NFL Draft fourth-round choice of the New England Patriots out of Auburn, Stidham was in Boston for a couple of years before he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. He started the first two games of his NFL career in 2022 when longtime starter Derek Carr was benched. Despite moving on to Denver last season, Stidham eerily found himself in a close to identical situation when he replaced Russell Wilson, starting (again) the final two games of his team’s season.

Now there’s another Wilson in the Broncos’ mix, Zach. The 2021 NFL Draft’s No. 2 overall pick was traded this offseason after falling far short of great expectations in Gotham with the New York Jets. Blessed with a cannon for an arm and underrated mobility, Wilson is on to his second team after his struggles played out in the New York headlines for three seasons.

Then there’s Nix, this year’s No. 12 overall pick, his selection having ended a record run on QBs in the first round. Nix lit it up at Oregon after transferring there from Auburn.

No matter what path led them to Denver, they all share the same objective – to secure the starting position for the Broncos in Week 1.

Payton is making every effort to provide them with a level playing field for competition.

Payton mentioned, “After Drew [Brees] left, we experienced it in New Orleans with Teddy [Bridgewater] and Taysom [Hill]. We base our decisions on what we observe. We make an effort to provide them with as many repetitions as possible. We’re currently rotating all of them. On Tuesday, ‘Stiddy’ started with the first team, followed by Zach and then Bo. We plan to continue this rotation for now.”

Payton misremembered his last QB competition a bit as Bridgewater was actually in Denver back in 2021 when Jameis Winston was winning the New Orleans Saints’ starting job against Hill. It was a two-QB battle to replace a future Hall of Famer.

In 2024, this isn’t the situation for the Broncos. Nix is, hopefully, the future franchise quarterback, but he, Stidham and Wilson are all competing for the immediate role of quarterback.

Payton holds no specific viewpoint on whether a rookie quarterback should sit or play, as he feels it is entirely situational. There is neither an existing starter nor a seasoned veteran.

“He suggested that some of it is a result of the resources available in the building. If there is a starting quarterback, that’s the direction you take. But sometimes you don’t have that advantage, and you must take a different route. A lot of it hinges on the quarterback’s mental capacity. So, it tends to vary. For instance, consider [Packers QB Jordan] Love who joined Green Bay after [Jets QB Aaron Rodgers], and Rodgers who joined after [former QB Brett Favre]. There’s a slight advantage there, but it largely depends on the team roster,” he explained.

It’s too soon to determine who is leading the three-way competition for the Broncos.

Payton was pleased with what he observed in Wilson.

“His experience is appealing to me,” stated Payton. “His prior gameplay is evident, and I sense that he possesses a remarkably vigorous arm strength. He seems to be grasping the offense quite swiftly.”

Similarly, Payton liked what he saw in Nix, including his aptitude for the offense.

“The head coach stated, “He’s more advanced than most. We’re discussing a player who has participated in 61 games. He’s incredibly intelligent and has grasped it very quickly.”

Unsurprisingly, Payton wasn’t directly questioned about Stidham and his performance.

Nix and Wilson, both aged 24, are the younger choices who are more hyped and attractive to the news cycle.

Payton quickly noted that there will be a time when practice repetitions – who gets how many and with the first or second team – will be significant. However, he emphasized, that time is not now. It’s only May. There’s a lengthy battle for the QB1 position ahead. Yet, it has definitely started in Denver, with Payton’s proteges vying for the lead position.