The Denver Broncos’ surprising first-round pick of Bo Nix left NFL analysts buzzing. While the organization believes in his potential, many questioned if selecting the Oregon quarterback at No. 12 overall was too high a price. Despite the skepticism, head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton are confident in Nix’s ability to deliver for Denver and went to great lengths to secure their man.
Denver Broncos’ Strategic Secrecy
Knowing that Nix was their top choice, Payton and Paton devised a plan to keep their draft intentions under wraps. Per AlbertBreer, their draft board was deliberately disordered to mislead anyone prying for information. Only Payton, Paton, and owner Greg Penner had the actual order memorized. They made sure that even their scouts and executives weren’t fully informed to prevent any leaks to rival teams.
Wary of the Las Vegas Raiders
Denver was particularly wary of the Las Vegas Raiders jumping ahead in the draft order. Reports indicated that the Broncos believed the Raiders would pounce on Nix if they knew he was Payton’s target. They remained steadfast at pick No. 12, resisting trade offers to ensure Nix didn’t slip through their fingers.
Albert Breer reported, “Enough people, by then, had connected the dots to where Denver had to be careful. Which is one reason why the Broncos stayed where they were at 12, resisting a trade back, and had a mild concern that the Raiders could leapfrog them.”
This careful strategy paid off after Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was picked at No. 8, diminishing the Raiders’ willingness to trade up.
The Bo Nix Pick Keeps Getting Weirder: The Broncos GM, CEO And Sean Payton Apparently Didn't Tell The Rest Of The Draft Room What QB They Wanted https://t.co/xCMr5opt06 pic.twitter.com/dGBjhLnbWf
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 7, 2024
Bo Nix: The Next Franchise QB?
Now that Nix is locked in, the question is whether he can meet the high expectations set by Payton. Comparisons between Nix and Drew Brees have surfaced, but Nix must carve out his path and not be burdened by those lofty expectations.
At 24 years old, Nix is expected to be ready to contribute sooner rather than later. His floor is high, given his skill set, but he still has to beat out veteran options like Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Payton is known for molding quarterbacks into elite passers, so if Nix buys into his system and develops accordingly, he could emerge as a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.
