Who will be replacing Russell Wilson and become the Denver Broncos QB1? Last month, coach Sean Payton said that he is more interested in getting the right starter than revealing the name too early. Probably this month too, at least for now, he is following the same ideology.

In a recent press conference at training camp, which began on July 24, in Denver, head coach Payton was asked about the possibility of choosing QB1 for his Orange team. But, according to Denver reporter, Zac Stevens, the 60-year-old isn’t stressing over the quarterback competition.

Payton said, “I don’t think I stress over it, but I focus on it and pay attention closely to it.” This means, the QB competition is being closely scrutinized by the HC, as the team has started its final analysis on the 3-way QB1 battle. And According to the coach, the Broncos’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Bo Nix, is surprisingly not guaranteed the starting quarterback position.

Despite being a highly-touted draft pick, Nix will compete with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the top spot. For this, Payton emphasized that all three quarterbacks will receive reps during training camp, just as they did in offseason workouts. As a result, this approach will ensure fair competition and help determine who truly deserves the QB1 role. But now the question is till when the QB1 will be announced?

For this query, the coach has already replied that, “Obviously, it won’t stay that way for the long term, but as we get started, we’ll keep you posted. And eventually, we’ll settle into the routine we want.”

When a team picks a quarterback early in the first round, it’s usually assumed he’ll be the starter. However, Payton isn’t making any promises about Bo Nix. As well as he hasn’t shared how he’ll determine which quarterback will lead, keeping the competition open and fair.

Who has the chance to be the QB1?

Coach Sean Payton is taking an unconventional approach to the Broncos’ quarterback situation. Instead of naming Bo Nix, as the starting QB, he’s having him compete with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. He is keeping the competition open, saying they’ll see how things evolve during camp. But when we talk about the chances, Nix, with his impressive college record and maturity, is already getting high praise from Payton.

In fact, the coach even compared him to Drew Brees (the quarterback he coached for 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints). Therefore, despite the competition, many believe Nix is the favorite of Denver currently. On the other hand, Stidham knows Payton’s system well, having played under him last season. Wheares Wilson, recently acquired from the Jets, is considered the underdog as of now, which means he is likely to take the QB3 spot.

The Broncos have struggled with consistency at quarterback since Peyton Manning retired, and they’ve cycled through 14 different starters since 2016. Finding a stable QB is crucial for their rebuilding efforts, and all eyes are on Nix to possibly fill that role and lead the team back to success.