The Broncos went on a crazy rollercoaster ride in 2024, and Bo Nix was the dude driving the hype train. When Sean Payton drafted him, people were side-eyeing the pick, but fast forward to now, and it’s looking like a major W. Even former NFL coach Jay Gruden kept it real with his thoughts on Nix, and it’s clear the rookie balled out.

Gruden was all about Nix’s accuracy, pocket movement, and how well he clicked in Payton’s offense. Sure, there’s still some stuff to clean up, but overall, the player cooked this season. And looks like this might just be the start of something big in Denver. The former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator made sure to give a shout-out to Nix’s passing game, especially on those short-to-mid throws.

He mentioned that Nix “throws a very catchable ball where receivers can run after the catch,” which is exactly what Payton’s system needs. The Broncos’ whole thing is about quick, efficient passes, and Nix reportedly made it look smooth. Plus, the dude barely got sacked—only 24 times all season, along with three fumbles—which is wild for a rookie QB. “He’s very athletic. He can get himself out of trouble…When I was thinking about my expectations where he got drafted, I would’ve thought he’d play like a D+ quarterback, but I gotta give him an A- for his production, and his ability to take that team to the playoffs,” the 57-year-old noted.

Having said that, the 24-year-old quarterback also completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns against 12 interceptions this season. That kind of pocket awareness is straight-up elite. Of course, no one’s perfect—Gruden pointed out that Nix could be better at reading deep routes and anticipating throws. “Down the field, vision, and accuracy, and anticipation is what he lacks a little bit,” he mentioned.

But the numbers? Oh yeah, they back it up. The Broncos’ offense leveled up big-time, finishing 10th in the league with 25 PPG—they locked in, allowing the lowest blown-block rate in the league at 2.3%. When your QB makes smart decisions and your line actually protects, good things happen.

But let’s keep things 100% real between us. The season didn’t end the way Denver wanted. They made the playoffs but got absolutely cooked by the Bills in the Wild Card round, losing 31-7. That game was a reality check, showing that Nix still has some growing to do, especially against elite defenses. It also proved that the Broncos aren’t quite built for a deep run… yet. The good news? This was just the first chapter. Nix already looks like a franchise guy, and now it’s all about leveling up.

So what’s next?

If Denver is smart, they’ll spend the offseason getting Nix more weapons, dialing in his deep ball, and making sure the defense doesn’t fold in big games. Payton’s got the vision, and if Nix keeps evolving, the Broncos might be cooking up something serious. It’s been a minute since Denver had a true QB1, but if Nix keeps this up? Yeah, he might just be HIM.

Bo Nix is That Guy and Peyton Manning sees it too

Bo Nix just wrapped up a rookie season that had Broncos fans low-key thinking they finally found their franchise QB. And if you ask Peyton Manning, this is just the beginning. The Hall of Famer knows what it takes to win in Denver, and he’s fully bought into the Nix hype. But it’s not just about the stats—Manning sees a dude who’s built differently. He’s a film junkie, a grinder, and already has Sean Payton’s trust. That’s the kind of QB you build a team around.

“It’s been a good fit,” Manning said on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan. “I just see it continuing to get better.” Coming from the guy who literally brought Denver a Super Bowl, that’s a huge vote of confidence. Manning noticed early on that Payton was all-in on Nix, and the rookie has done nothing but prove him right. He’s got the work ethic, leadership, and smarts to take this team to the next level.

Nix didn’t just have a good rookie year—he cooked. He led Denver to the playoffs for the first time since Manning was under center. He even made history as the first rookie QB with multiple games of 300+ yards, four TDs, and a 140+ passer rating. That’s not just talent—that’s straight-up efficiency. So, Bo Nix is the future we can say!

Now, the real test is keeping the momentum going. Manning’s seen plenty of teams have one good year and then fall off, but he doesn’t think that’s happening in Denver. With Bo Nix leading the charge, Payton calling the shots, and a young squad getting better every week, the Broncos might be back for real. If this is just the beginning, the AFC better watch out—Denver’s coming.