Keep this key factor in mind if Bo Nix wins starting quarterback job

Travis Wakeman

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Keep this key factor in mind if Bo Nix wins starting quarterback job image

At this point, it would be somewhat of an upset if Bo Nix was not named the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Though training camp and the entire preseason remain, it is assumed by most that the first-round pick will win the job to open the season. 

Head coach Sean Payton will have plenty to consider while evaluating what to do at quarterback and the smart move might be to throw Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson out there to take some lumps while the team builds some chemistry and gets better before Nix goes out and gets beat up. 

There is an argument to be made that nothing will help a young player more than going out there and playing but there is another good argument that some experience can be detrimental. The difference between the two is a thin line. 

But if Payton decides to go with the rookie, there is one thing fans need to consider as the team builds its 53-man roster. 

 

Sean Payton values experience and will want as much of that around Nix as possible

Payton is a smart head coach. He has been through just about every situation in the league during his long coaching career and one thing that seems to be a pattern since he has been a head coach is that he takes the slow approach when it comes to most rookies. 

While he may determine that Nix is the best bet to open the season at quarterback, he may not want to surround him with a bunch of inexperienced guys. How could that impact the roster building?

Starting at the center position, Alex Forsyth was a college teammate of Nix but he has never played a snap in the NFL. For this reason, Payton could opt for a guy like Sam Mustipher, who has plenty of games under his belt. 

At the running back position, the Broncos may have their combination of the future in Audric Estime and undrafted free agent Blake Watson, but the trio of Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Samaje Perine figure to be more what Payton is looking for to aid his rookie passer. 

Nix will throw many passes to his former Oregon teammate Troy Franklin in his career, but how many will he throw to him as a rookie? Payton will almost certainly be more comfortable with guys like Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick on the field. It even opens the door for guys on the roster bubble like Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Brandon Johnson. 

Payton could go in a completely different direction once he sees some of these young players in action, but it is worth mentioning when considering how he will shape his final roster if Nix wins the starting gig. 

Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.