Bo Nix previews Broncos QB competition with Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson

Since the Denver Broncos selected Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix as the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, many have believed that head coach Sean Payton will start him over journeyman Jarrett Stidham and former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson this September.

Nix recently spoke about the team's alleged quarterback competition that theoretically could run through the upcoming preseason.

"I have great respect for those guys and we're competing at a very high level, but it's very respectful competition," Nix explained, as shared by Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' website. "I think we all want each other to succeed. We all know that we've come from different paths and had to overcome different adversities, and that's kind of what connects us in that. We're all helping each other, and it's been great to learn from those guys and experience some things that they've experienced."

Ahead of Denver's summer break, Payton praised all three of his quarterbacks for how they "get the ball out quick." Payton repeatedly has insisted Nix, Stidham and Wilson will receive equal opportunities to prove themselves throughout training camp, but NFL Media's Bucky Brooks mentioned earlier this week that Nix is "going to be the starting QB for the Broncos, barring injury" when Denver opens the regular season at the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.

"...Honestly, my job as a rookie is to soak up everything I can, especially from those guys," Nix continued. "You know, Zach's played a lot and Stidham's played a lot of years. And so they've got — between the two — different situations, but a lot of knowledge, so that's what I'm excited to continue to learn in training camp. I think it's just overall healthy competition, a good competition and I think we're all going to be better coming out of it."

Denver declined to pick up the fifth-year option attached to Wilson's rookie contract this spring, and Stidham has already failed to win Payton over. While Nix noted that the starting job "is obviously not just handed out," it certainly seems like it's his to lose heading into Denver's preseason opener at the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 11.