Analyst guarantees rookie Bo Nix will be Broncos starting QB

When the Denver Broncos start training camp on July 26 , quarterbacks Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson will vie for the starting job. However, is it a true competition?

During a recent episode of NFL Media's "The Insiders," analyst Bucky Brooks predicted Nix — the 12th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft —would be the Week 1 starter.

"He's going to be the starting QB for the Broncos, barring injury," Brooks said. "And he's going to be the perfect QB for [head coach] Sean Payton and his system. If you go back and cross-reference [former New Orleans Saints QB] Drew Brees' game, you can see a lot of parallels."

Future Hall of Famer Brees starred for Payton in 15 seasons in New Orleans. Suggesting Nix will have a similar career is rash. He is a precise passer, though, much like the Super Bowl champion. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked first in the FBS in adjusted completion percentage (85.5%) last season.

ESPN's Jeff Legwold reported Nix, Stidham and Wilson split reps with the first-team offense in OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He didn't clarify whether they'll divvy up the workload in training camp. The 24-year-old made a strong impression, though.

"It's already become normal for Payton to speak highly of his rookie quarterback ," wrote Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. "It's too early to call the Broncos' quarterback race for Nix, but if he continues to meet or exceed Payton's lofty expectations for him in August, he will be difficult to beat out."

Stidham and Wilson provide little upside. Former first-rounder Wilson threw more interceptions (25) than TDs (23) in three seasons with the New York Jets. Stidham, a 27-year-old journeyman, went 1-1 in two starts with Denver last season, posting a below-average 31.1 QBR.

Nix is much more experienced than the typical rookie QB, so the 2023 Heisman finalist shouldn't have a steep learning curve. In five seasons at Auburn and Oregon, he started in an FBS-record 61 games.