Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Had Impact on Broncos' Bo Nix Decision

It's no secret that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is one of the greatest offensive minds in football.

Dating back to his days as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, he's always had an eye for quarterback talent. Taking a major risk on injured quarterback Drew Brees turned out to be the most important acquisition in franchise history, one that would eventually award them a Super Bowl.

Later, when it was time for an heir apparent to Brees, Payton had his eye on a Texas Tech signal caller in the 2017 NFL Draft, Patrick Mahomes.

Unfortunately for Saints fans and Payton, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to jump in front of New Orleans and select Mahomes. The rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward to the 2024 NFL Draft, with Payton now at the helm for the Broncos, once again in need of a quarterback following the disaster of the Russell Wilson experience.

Payton again fell for another prospect, this time around Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. This time, he wouldn't lose out on someone he deemed to have the potential of a franchise quarterback.

Seth Wickersham of ESPN was on Up & Adams detailing what about Nix made Payton feel so adamant about selecting him.

"Losing out on Patrick Mahomes was something that haunted Sean Payton." Wickersham said. "That has haunted Sean Payton's career that he's had his eye on Mahomes and that the Chiefs traded up right before he was due to pick him."

Payton learned from that draft night disappointment, however, and has used it going forward to help his process when evaluating players.

"I think that the scars from that led to him creating a system to evaluate quarterbacks that led to Bo Nix."

Now, Payton has to face Mahomes and Kansas City twice a year in the AFC West. But he has his own handpicked quarterback running the show under center.