Broncos Training Camp powered by Ford is just days away, and we're finishing up a position-by-position look at the Broncos' roster.
The categories are refreshed and a little different this season, but we're still going to take a close look at each position group that's set to take the field in late July.
We finish with the quarterback position, where Bo Nix enters his second year as a starter.
TOP STORYLINE
What does Bo Nix have in store for Year 2?
In his first season in Denver, all Bo Nix did was set virtually every franchise rookie record.
He recorded new franchise rookie marks in wins, touchdown passes, passing yards and a variety of other categories. Nix's 29 touchdown passes were the second most by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, and he became one of five rookies in NFL history with 3,500 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns. A two-time AFC Offensive Player of the Week, Nix posted an NFL rookie record seven games with at least 200 passing yards and two passing touchdowns and no interceptions.
As Nix approaches his second season, he isn't paying that success much attention.
"I have a buddy on the team, and we talk about it all the time," Nix said in May. "We tell each other, 'You're still a nobody, you haven't done anything yet.' We have a lot to prove, and we have a lot to go out there and do. It's people like that who keep you in check. It's teammates that have your back and continue to motivate you, because he's right. I haven't done anything up until this point, and I have a lot to prove and a lot of show. Every day, it's [about] working. Every day, it's finding a way to get better. You don't want to get to Year 2 or go down the road, and all of a sudden you got stuck and didn't get any better. So, that's my focus right now.
"… It's not even worrying about what people say. Just internally, I know I have a long way to go."
The Broncos have continued to develop their roster around Nix, but there's no doubt the success of their season will be determined — in part — by if Nix continues to elevate his game. With Year 2 approaching, the Broncos' young signal-caller seems to have the right mindset.
PLAYER TO WATCH
QB Bo Nix
It may be an obvious choice, but Nix will be the main focus for fans and media members alike when open practices get underway.
And as Nix leads the Broncos' offense, there should be a stark contrast from last year's training camp. A year ago, Nix shared reps and competed for the starting quarterback position. He was still learning the playbook, and there was an acknowledged learning curve as he prepared for his first NFL season.
As Payton said during the offseason, Nix is at an "entirely different" spot as he enters Year 2.
"Less pause, less hesitation with the play call in the huddle," Payton said at the end of the offseason program. "Less pause, less hesitation in the pocket. He's playing fast, and again, protecting the ball. He's hard to sack. He was hard to sack in college. You're seeing him practice faster with more confidence."
Nix said he's no longer worried about footwork, motions or the timing of a play. Instead, he can read the defense and simply react.
"I feel like I'm a lot further," Nix said in May. "Just spitting out play calls [is] a lot easier, and processing. … It's a lot better. It's a lot more enjoyable not thinking right now as opposed to what I was doing last year. It's fun. It's fun to be in the know. It's fun to have a little bit more of an understanding of what's going on so I can be a little bit more beneficial to others and help them out along the way. I feel good. We're in a good spot."
As training camp begins, that progression should be on display.
STAT TO KNOW
4.
After an up-and-down start to the season, Nix ranked among the NFL's best as he got adjusted to the NFL level. From Week 5 until the end of the year, Nix ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating among all quarterbacks with at least 375 pass attempts. He also posted the fifth most passing touchdowns of any quarterback in that span, as he completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,115 yards, 28 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 103.2 quarterback rating.
Over the final 10 weeks of the season, Nix also recorded five games with at least three passing touchdowns.
If the end of last year is any indication, Nix could be in store for an impressive second season.
… AND ONE MORE THING
While the focus is on Nix, the depth in the Broncos' quarterback room remains important. Veteran Jarrett Stidham returns for a third season in Denver, and he'll continue to serve as a key resource for Nix in the quarterback room. Denver also added Sam Ehlinger in the offseason, and the former 2021 sixth-round pick will look to compete in training camp.
A year ago, Denver kept three quarterbacks on its active roster in Nix, Stidham and Zach Wilson. Will the Broncos do the same in 2025?
