Bo Nix criticized the person who predicted the Broncos would part ways with him, a 'record-breaking QB' as Potential Trouble Looms

Bo Nix is the Denver Broncos’ “reason for hope,” explained ESPN’s Benjamin Solak in the outlet’s 2025 NFL future power rankings. And yet, Solak’s colleague, Seth Walder, boldly predicted that the Nix would “lose his starting job” as the Broncos’ quarterback.

That will not happen until 2027, according to Walder’s prognostication, after Nix’s four-year, $18.6 million rookie scale contract expires, when the QB is on his fifth-year option.

Then, building out the roster could prove much more challenging for the Broncos.

“The 2027 season … will be his last as a Bronco. There’s optimism around him now, but there’s reason to be skeptical in the long term,” Walder wrote on August 11. “As a rookie, his rushing led him to be decent efficiency-wise. But he ranked 28th in completion percentage over expectation (minus-2.4%) and 22nd in yards per dropback (6.16) despite playing behind a top-tier offensive line. The roster around him is great now, but it won’t always be.”

Nix, the No. 12 overall selection, will be 27 years old entering the 2027 season. That should be the early portion of his prime years. The Broncos ranked seventh on the list with a “very good” B-grade and an overall score of 85.

He rewrote the Broncos’ record books as a rookie, setting first-year QB marks in passing attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards.

Nix also led the Broncos to a 10-win season and their first playoff berth since 2015.

Bo Nix Part of Broncos’ ‘Reason for Hope’

Nix threw for 3,775 yards, 29 TDs, and 12 INTs in his first season, starting all 17 games for the Broncos. His rushing prowess – 430 yards and 4 touchdowns on 92 carries – was a bonus from a player profiled as a polished passer, particularly on short and intermediate throws.

Those throws are prevalent in Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s offense, and Nix’s status would seem secured so long as that remains the case.

“The Broncos look like they have a solid starting quarterback in Bo Nix and have arguably the NFL’s best offensive line and best defense, led by star cornerback Pat Surtain II,” Solak wrote, explaining his designation for Nix. “What a turnaround for coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton.”

In the Broncos’ section of the power ranking, former NFL player and front office member Louis Riddick, now an analyst, pointed to the uncertainty around the Broncos’ running back room as a “reason for concern.”

However, Aaron Schatz pointed to the Broncos’ older but still league-leading offensive line as a “nugget to know.”

If the Broncos continue to value their trenches, Nix and everyone else will thrive as they have.

Sean Payton, Bo Nix in Lock Step

Payton has raved about Nix since the latter arrived, and the quarterback has reciprocated that praise while acknowledging his willingness to work and live up to those expectations.

“He can throw in funny body angles.”

“First, it’s good to have a coach that believes in you. But it’s also, if he believes that, I know I got a lot of work to do to get there. I don’t want to let that word go void. I want to give my best shot at going out there and doing that. Not just, obviously, for him, for our team, for this organization. But for myself. We’ve put a lot of hard work into this. Each and every day, it’s a battle, it’s a grind, and we just want to see the fruits of our labor,” Nix told reporters on August 7.

“I think that’s, obviously, our goal. And we talk about Super Bowls, talking about winning culture. That helps a lot in being the best I can be.”

Payton and Nix both espoused their belief that this Broncos team can compete for a Super Bowl, which further indicated how aligned they are. That bodes well for the Broncos in 2025 and is encouraging for Nix going forward despite the ominous prediction.