In the Mile High City, where quarterbacks are scrutinized closely, Sean Payton’s latest move has stirred up a storm. The Broncos, desperate to break their post-Manning QB curse, have pinned their hopes on Bo Nix, the sixth quarterback taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. But ESPN analyst Booger McFarland isn’t buying what Payton’s trying to sell.

“Of all the quarterbacks that were picked in the first round, for me, he was the least talented of all of them,” McFarland declared on NFL on ESPN. Ouch. That’s gotta sting! But Payton, ever the QB whisperer, seems to have fallen head over cleats for Nix’s mental game.

Adam Schefter chimed in, revealing the Broncos “had a grade on him that was equivalent to the top quarterbacks in this draft.” It’s a bold claim, considering the star-studded QB class of 2024. Caleb Williams, the Bears‘ golden boy, went first overall with a 93.5 rating. Jayden Daniels (90.9) and Drake Maye (90.1) followed, snatched up by the Commanders and Patriots respectively. Even Michael Penix Jr. and JJ McCarthy heard their names being called before Nix.

Let’s break down the competition. Williams, the USC prodigy, is hailed as the best QB prospect in college football. Daniels excels as a dual-threat quarterback, while Maye boasts a strong arm and ideal size. Penix Jr., despite injury concerns, broke out as a fifth-year senior. McCarthy, well, he’s the guy the Vikings fell for when Payton seemingly pulled a fast one.

So what’s got Payton so jazzed about Nix? Experience. Nix started a whopping 65 games in college, more than some NFL veterans have under their belts. As Schefter put it, “Bo Nix started 65 games in college, so he comes in ready to win that job.”

But college success doesn’t always translate to the pros. Just ask the long list of Denver QBs who’ve come and gone since Peyton Manning hung up his cleats. It’s been a revolving door that would make even the most patient fans dizzy.

Payton’s betting his reputation as a QB guru on Nix. He sees shades of Drew Brees in the rookie’s mental approach and accuracy. “Mentally, [Nix] wants to know as much and as fast as he can,” Payton said via DNVR Sports in June, drawing parallels to his former Saints star. But can Nix live up to those lofty comparisons? Or will he be another name added to Denver’s QB graveyard?

A stark contrast in styles from Russell Wilson to Nix

The Broncos are shifting gears faster than a NASCAR pit crew, moving from Wilson’s improvisation to Nix’s by-the-book approach. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi praised Nix’s maturity, saying last month, “He certainly doesn’t feel like a rookie. He has seen a lot and doesn’t make the same mistake twice very often.”

Nix’s college stats are undoubtedly impressive. He completed an FBS-best 77.2% of his passes, threw for 4,145 yards, and tossed 40 touchdowns against just three interceptions. For comparison, Jayden Daniels completed 72.2% of his passes for 3,812 yards and 40 TDs. But the NFL is a different beast altogether, more ferocious than a grizzly bear woken from hibernation.

McFarland’s concerns aren’t just hot air. He acknowledged Nix’s intelligence but questioned his ability to push the ball downfield in the NFL. “At Oregon, we saw him improve from Auburn to Oregon. At Oregon, he threw the football short to intermediate with the best of them. In the National Football League, you can’t dink and dunk anymore,” McFarland warned.

As Nix reports to training camp with other rookies, the pressure’s on. He’s already been cramming the playbook like a student before finals. Payton mentioned how Nix and Zach Wilson had done well in learning the system in a “short period of time,” calling it “encouraging.”

The Broncos are all-in on Nix, hoping his quick study skills and experience will translate to NFL success. Payton even dubbed the current QB situation “the orphan group,” with Nix, Wilson, and Stidham all coming from different backgrounds. As Payton put it May, “They’re all orphaned dogs. They’ve come from somewhere, but they’re doing good.”

But the ghost of Russell Wilson‘s failed tenure still looms large. The team is absorbing a staggering $85 million in dead money after parting ways with Wilson. Can Nix be the answer to wash away the bad taste of that expensive mistake?

Only time will tell if Payton’s gamble pays off or if the quarterback carousel will keep on spinning in the Mile High City. As Chris Simms cautioned, “My only worry is that Sean puts too much on him early on.” In the end, Broncos fans are left hoping that Nix can buck the trend and become the franchise QB they’ve been craving since Manning rode off.