The Denver Broncos’ quarterback position has undergone significant changes in 2024. Bo Nix, a rookie first-round pick, and Zach Wilson, a miserable former first-round pick, replaced Russell Wilson, a former Super Bowl champion. Jarrett Stidham, the Broncos’ lone holdover, started the last two games of last season. As with any situation involving a rookie quarterback, there will most likely be discussion of a competition leading up to training camp.

However, considering the Broncos’ lengthy history of poor seasons, we can safely assume Bo Nix will start sooner rather than later.

Will Bo Nix be at the top of the Broncos’ depth chart? Here’s where I anticipate the Broncos depth chart will fall in Week 1, and why I believe each player is ready to secure their respective spots on the positional depth chart. QB1: Bo Nix A perennial losing team over the last eight seasons will not choose a quarterback 12th overall and sit him for a year. This is Bo Nix’s opportunity to shine… or flop.

The Broncos were rumored to be the ideal team for Nix, but evaluators ranked him as the fifth or sixth best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. That would indicate that he would be a late first or early second-round pick at best. However, Denver was forced to make a decision due to the glut of top-10 quarterbacks. Many criticized it as a terrible reach, but image the Broncos quarterback dilemma if they had risked losing Nix by playing the value game. It would not be good, to say the least.

Nix was the No. 3 quarterback on the Broncos’ draft board and is highly regarded by the team.

Given the number of games Nix has played and his age, Denver is unlikely to draft him to sit out a year. They need a starting quarterback right now.Zach Wilson has been in the league for three seasons and is only six months older than rookie Bo Nix. It just doesn’t make sense for Bo Nix not to start Week 1.

If he doesn’t, the Broncos’ draft class is in jeopardy from the start, given how little draft money they had in the first two days of this year’s draft. QB2: Zach Wilson When Denver traded for Zach Wilson, I liked the concept of bringing in a project like him to possibly save his career. As a top overall pick, the pedigree is there; coaches will simply need to work on restoring confidence.

The former No. 2 overall pick by the New York Jets has struggled to live up to his draft status, with only a 57% completion rate, 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions in his three-year career. It didn’t help that he was selected by the Jets, who, like the Broncos, have failed to field a competitive football team in recent years. If he could spend a few years with a coaching staff lead by Sean Payton, I believe his later career would be reinvigorated for a player like Wilson.

QB3: Jarrett Stidham

Overall, I believe Jarrett Stidham will be a superior option as Bo Nix’s Week 1 backup. However, given his salary and Wilson’s draft pedigree, I believe he ends up as the odd man out. The major reason I believe Wilson will overcome Stidham is money. Both he and Wilson are only under contract for this year, but Wilson’s cap hit is $2.7 million, compared to Stidham’s $7 million. From a statistical sense, it appears that if they are in a close race for the backup place, Wilson will receive the nod owing to his contract and draft pedigree.

I really like Stidham as a backup, and if he ends up beating Wilson, I won’t be disappointed. What to Expect From a Bo Nix-Led Broncos Team in 2024

There was a reason why many draft analysts regarded Bo Nix as a top prospect for Sean Payton’s offensive scheme. The two appeared to be a wonderful complement for Nix’s strengths and Payton’s offensive philosophy. We should also recall that Payton had a broken Russell Wilson in excellent position to challenge for a playoff run late last season before the wheels came off, so perhaps the ceiling should be boosted slightly with a rookie quarterback at the helm.

As someone who watched a lot of Broncos film last season, Wilson missed a lot of big plays. If Nix can see even a portion of those wide-open receivers, this offense is primed to make a significant step forward. Obviously, as a fan, I hope for that outcome, but there will be growing pains, as there always are with a first-year starting quarterback. For Nix to thrive and lead Denver to the playoffs this season, the team’s defense and rushing assault must remain strong.