Sean Payton’s mantra echoes through the Mile High City. But can a rookie quarterback really lead the charge? Enter Bo Nix, the Denver Broncos‘ new hope and potential “Patrick Mahomes reincarnation.” The Broncos’ quarterback carousel has been dizzying since Peyton Manning hung up his cleats. But now, there’s a buzz in the air that hasn’t been felt since the days of “Omaha!” calls.

Bo Nix, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is already turning heads and dropping jaws in training camp. Thus, it was not surprising to see even the NFL analyst Bucky Brooks impressed with the rookie QB as he believes that something special is brewing in Denver. “I like the pick because Bo Nix had the most experience of any quarterback that we’ve seen come through the draft process – 64 starts,” Brooks raved on the The Herd with Colin Cowherd podcast today. He highlighted three key reasons why Nix could be the answer to Denver’s underwhelming performances:

1. Experience: “64 starts if you can imagine just how much experience good bad that he’s gone through.”
2. Maturity: “Super mature, not very emotional when it comes to his play. He’s a professional.”
3. Fit with Payton’s system: “For Sean Payton, I’m sure he’s looking at Drew Brees, the best quarterback that he had up under him. He wanted somebody that was similar that could give him the coach on the field.”

Meanwhile, the Mahomes comparisons have been hard to ignore. Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell back in May, tweeting: “Payton feels as strongly about Bo Nix as he did Mahomes.” That’s high praise, considering Payton was ready to draft Mahomes in 2017 before the Chiefs snagged him and Coach Sean was left empty-handed.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, who faced Nix in college also acknowledges this potential. “I don’t know Drew Brees, all I did was watch him from afar, but there are some similarities there,” Whittingham said last month. “He is an alpha dog. I don’t know him personally, but you can just see it on the field. He exudes leadership.” Whittingham added, “You can tell that he has great command of the whole offense. He is the focal point, all of the players rally around him.”

Probably that is exactly what the Broncos need at this moment. A good leadership and a stable offense. Nix’s college stats back up this hype as well. His 77.4% completion percentage set an FBS single-season record. In training camp, he’s already showing flashes of brilliance. “During the team period, Nix operated well under pressure, finding Lil’Jordan Humphrey down the right sideline after being forced out of the pocket edge by Thomas Incoom,” one report noted, showcasing Nix’s Mahomes-like ability to extend plays

Is Bo Nix the key to ending Denver’s Quarterback woes?.

Interestingly, it’s not just Nix’s college resume that’s got folks talking. He’s showing a maturity beyond his years. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin spilled the beans on Nix’s early impact as a teacher by himself: “He’s very mature. Very mature. I would say he’s teaching me things as well,” McLaughlin revealed to Denversports.com. “So, I think that’s just a testament of who that guy is in Bo. And he’s a hard worker, focused, laser sharp.”

This combination of experience and leadership has Payton seeing shades of his former protégé, Drew Brees. “He doesn’t take a lot of sacks. I think he knows when the play is over, [it’s] time to go. Then I think he can make plays when he’s going,” Payton explained to pressors this week. “I used to say this all the time, ‘The sack numbers are a reflection more on the quarterback than the offensive line.’ [Drew] Brees was one of those guys. He was a tough sack. The ball came out [quickly], and I think Bo has traits like that.”

Payton’s excitement is palpable when he discusses Nix’s college performance back in April: “You pay close attention to all the film study, and obviously he’s played a lot of football, but sack differential, turnover differential, accuracy, third-down passing — first, first, first, first in this class. First in end of half, first in end of game, two-minute situations, second in red zone.”

Tight end Adam Trautman echoed the sentiment to Denversports.com: “He’s doing great. People talk about all the games he started in college. I think that truly means something. You see it in the way he commands a huddle and the way he steps up into the pocket where he can find his voids. That’s an experience thing.”

While Nix is talented and possesses instincts when it comes to football, good guidance goes a long way. Just like Patrick Mahomes had Alex Smith who was a “prime example and was playing great football at [a] top level — and he was teaching me at the same time,” young Bo Nix has been surrounded by veteran mentors including Philip Rivers. “He has a lot of knowledge, a lot more than I have,” acknowledged the Broncos QB.

All that is left to witness, especially for Orange Crush, is Nix in action. The tales of praise getting converted into triumphs of gridiron. The young QB is ready as “Pressure gives you opportunities.” But, are you ready to see this phenom execute Sean Payton’s playbook? Only time will tell if Bo Nix can truly fill the impossible shoes left by the ghost of Patrick Mahomes past and end the Broncos’ streak of seven consecutive losing seasons.