Broncos Get ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Warning on Franchise QB Bo Nix

“The term ‘sophomore slump’ exists for a reason,” Ballentine wrote on June 16. “The league is in a constant state of move and countermove. Now that the entire Broncos schedule has a year’s worth of film on Nix, it’s on him to take his game to the next level and stay ahead of the curve … The (offense) isn’t that improved on paper, which leaves the possibility they’ll be close to getting the same results in 2025.”

Nix Surprised and Thrilled as Rookie in 2024

Nix was the last of a record-tying 6 quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft at No. 12 overall — and the one with probably the lowest amount of expectations headed into his rookie year.

In retrospect, there was even a school of thought that Nix might not even be able to beat out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback as a rookie — something he managed to do pretty easily.

Nix stumbled at the beginning of his rookie year as he acclimated to head coach Sean Payton’s complicated offensive system, but once he hit his stride he was one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in the second half of the season.

Nix ultimately led the Broncos to their first postseason appearance since the 2015 season after going 10-7 in the regular season and was the runner-up to Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Plenty of Motivation Still Exists for Nix

If he wants to tap into it, the motivation for Nix exists everywhere around him.

In the latest PFF rankings of all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks, Nix was placed at No. 19 — he’s also ranked as the worst starting quarterback in the AFC West.

Nix threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024 — numbers made even more impressive when we consider he didn’t throw his first touchdown pass until Week 4. He also rushed for 430 yards and led the Broncos with 4 rushing touchdowns.

“There are three quarterbacks Nix deserves to be ahead of based on last season: Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa,” The Denver Post’s Troy Renck wrote on May 24. “Murray and Tua get bumped because of injuries and Lawrence just isn’t that guy anymore. He owns a 2-13 record over his past 15 games with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions … So, no, 19th does not do him justice. Not his rookie season. Or where he is going.”