Expecting a Battle for QB1, Sean Payton Refuses to Reveal Broncos’ Starter Despite Drafting Russell Wilson’s Replacement

The Denver Broncos quarterback situation is shaping up to be an all-out battle royale, with head coach Sean Payton keeping his cards close to his chest. Despite drafting Bo Nix as the 12th overall pick, seen as a potential replacement for Russell Wilson, Payton refuses to anoint a starter.

“We’ll figure it out…It’s you know with with young guys the reps are important but we’ll have we’ll have a rotation and we’ll go from there,” Payton stated firmly when asked about his quarterback plans at a press conference after the Broncos’ rookie minicamp practice. His words signal an open competition where every snap and decision will be scrutinized.

The stakes are high in the Mile High City. After Wilson’s rocky tenure that saw him get sacked a whopping 45 times in 2023, the Broncos are desperate for stability under center. With veteran Ben DiNucci released, the QB room is now a three-horse race between Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson.

And Payton is sure not to repeat the old scenario of not giving enough opportunity to the right guys and that is reflected in his words, “You know throughout the evaluation process..you’re trying to not just with the quarterbacks you’re trying to find these players that are driven and it’s the hardest thing to measure all the time you know how important is it to them you know and uh and so there’s a lot that goes into it”

Stidham, 27, started the final two games last season after Wilson was benched, going 1-1. Zach Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick, struggled mightily as the Jets’ QB1 in 2023 after an injury to Aaron Rodgers, but still has a sense of experience of knowing the NFL learnings. Their experience gives them an edge, but the highly-touted Nix seems determined to buck expectations.

From college sensation to NFL rookie- Nix embraces lofty expectations squashed by Russell Wilson!

While still a rookie, Bo Nix isn’t your typical fresh-faced newbie. The 24-year-old arrives in Denver with a wealth of experience after a record-setting 61 career starts in college between Auburn and Oregon. His final season was a masterpiece – 4,508 passing yards, 45 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions, and a Fiesta Bowl record of 5 TD tosses.

It’s that combination of production and seasoning that has Payton raving. “It’s almost like watching a good golfer,” he gushed about Nix’s poise and decision-making at rookie minicamp. “With each play, the efficiency of how he’s operating, and all of that.”

For Nix, it’s a chance to live out his NFL dream in a quarterback-crazed city celebrating legends like John Elway and Peyton Manning. “I can’t believe I get to wear a Broncos jersey and go out there and do what so many greats have done before me,” he said to reporters after the camp, acknowledging the immense pressure and responsibility.

But pressure is nothing new for Nix. “Obviously, pressure gives you the opportunity,” he stated. “So, the more pressure and responsibility you have, the more you have to go out there and consistently earn it.”

However, the competition is underway in Denver, with Payton meticulously “evaluating every one of them” to identify his new field general. While he remains tight-lipped publicly, you can be sure the coach’s eagle-eye is scrutinizing every detail behind closed doors. Which quarterback do you think will emerge victorious in Payton’s eyes through sheer grit and performance? Let us know your views below!