ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months ago, quarterback Bo Nix was working to learn the Broncos' offense — and to adjust to the NFL game. From delivering the play calls to making the right reads, the initial weeks of Nix's NFL career presented a challenge.
All while he began to compete for the Broncos' starting quarterback role.
As the Broncos wrapped up their first week of organized team activities on Thursday, Nix's experience couldn't be more different.
On the heels of a rookie season in which he threw the second most touchdown passes by a rookie in NFL history, Nix enters Year 2 as the Broncos' quarterback of the future — and he does so with infinitely more comfort in his role than this time a year ago.
"I feel like I'm a lot further," Nix said Thursday. "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."
Head Coach Sean Payton, who cited the importance of stability in "what we're doing offensively," agreed with Nix's assessment of the improvement from the 2024 offseason.
"It's a lot different," Payton said. "... Just the processing [and] understanding of what we're doing in and out of the huddle [has improved]. As you're watching each decision, [the throws are] where you want the ball to go. I think it's entirely different."
Nix said he's no longer thinking too much about footwork or motions or timing. Instead, he's simply able to react to the defense and make the correct play.
"That process is eliminated, and now I can focus on a lot more of the defense," Nix said.
Between his increased comfort and playing in the same system with many of the same players, Nix said there will be a number of benefits for the offense — including some that will only be apparent when they occur.
"You're going to see it in ways that you can't even understand," Nix said. "It's just a natural thing to go out there and just pick up right where you left off and not have to restart."
The increased comfort, though, does not mean Nix has gotten complacent. As external expectations rise for both Nix and the Broncos, the second-year quarterback has an internal focus on improvement.
He also has a teammate within the walls of the Broncos' locker room that has helped him remain motivated as he aims to build on a stellar rookie season.
"I have a buddy on the team, and we talk about it all the time," Nix said. "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."
