The Denver Broncos ended up having an impressive quarterback room in their first season without Russell Wilson, but there was a drawback.
Bo Nix blew the doors off the expectations placed on him in his rookie season. Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, Nix was pegged as a quarterback who could have gone in the second round.
The Denver Broncos picked him 12th overall. Then, in a six-quarterback draft, he managed to be one of two quarterbacks to be nominated as a finalist for the 2024-25 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Jayden Daniels won the award in the end, but Bo Nix proved a point.
Joining a team that had not been to the playoffs in a decade, Nix got his team into the January tournament on his first try. Sean Payton has plenty of reason to point to the performance as the reason why Evan Engram chose to join Denver. However, for all of the success the quarterback room saw in 2024, it was a losing battle in one regard.
Sean Payton’s losing battle in Bo Nix’s quarterback room
In an April 3 Broncos Wire article, Sean Payton spoke about Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham at the league meetings in Palm Beach. He was happy about Jarrett Stidham returning, but hinted he knew the team couldn’t keep Zach Wilson long before the eventual separation.
“Obviously, we’re excited that ‘Stiddy’ is back. He brings a veteran presence, but also a young presence about him. I know how he feels about his own abilities,” he said.
He added: “We had a great room a year ago. You guys know that. It was probably unrealistic to think that we were going to have both Zach and Jarrett back. So I want to see those guys obviously have success. They’re both talented players.”
Wilson joined the Miami Dolphins after one season with the Denver Broncos as the third-string quarterback. Part of Payton’s role was to coach up all three quarterbacks, including Wilson. Even if it meant not using the quarterback and losing him in the end. Of course, with Wilson gone, it leaves Stidham with a clearer role on the team.
Jarrett Stidham’s role in 2025
Sean Payton also suggested that Jarrett Stidham, a five-season veteran in the NFL, still has a role as a mentor for Bo Nix.
“I think the experience from Jarrett is helpful to Bo,” he said.
Of course, at face value, one may argue that Nix, the playoff veteran, has more to teach the backup at this point. However, Jarrett Stidham has a notable history that runs deeper than with his time in Denver.
Stidham played one season with the Las Vegas Raiders as a backup who got two starts after Derek Carr was informed he wouldn’t be the guy going forward. More notably, he spent time backing up Tom Brady with the New England Patriots back in 2019.
He was a rookie, and he took some of his first lessons from the most accomplished quarterback in NFL history. As such, yeah, he has some pointers left to give the quarterback. Of course, if the worst happens, he will also be ready to step in and keep the team afloat.
