Reporter names 'advantage' Zach Wilson has in Broncos QB competition

It certainly sounds like Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is serious about giving rookie Bo Nix, journeyman Jarrett Stidham and former New York Jets flop Zach Wilson equal opportunities to win Denver's starting quarterback job before August comes to an end.

For a piece published Friday, Jeff Legwold of ESPN hinted that Wilson could ultimately surprise many outsiders by earning the nod for the Broncos' regular-season opener at the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.

"Wilson's advantage in offseason workouts was his willingness to make more risk-reward throws down the field than Nix and Stidham," Legwold wrote. "The work that needs to be done on his mechanics and footwork makes him a bit of a longshot, but Wilson's big-play potential could allow him to win the job."

The second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson undeniably showed promise and offered teases during his Jets tenure that he could ultimately develop into at least a capable starter at the highest level. However, he also was benched on multiple occasions due to inconsistent and poor play, and one could argue he was the league's worst starting signal-caller last season.

According to Pro Football Reference, Wilson ended the 2023 campaign ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 30.6 adjusted QBR and tied for last with a 36.5% passing success rate.

Many assumed almost immediately after Payton made Nix the 12th overall pick of this year's draft that the first-year pro would be catapulted to the QB1 spot of the club's depth chart. That hasn't been the case, and Wilson should receive chances to show if he's improved from where he was in December 2023 when Denver begins the preseason with a matchup at the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 11.

"The No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft can prevail by improving his decision-making and his comfort level with some of the touch throws in the offense," Legwold wrote about Denver's quarterback competition. "Wilson flashed the downfield edge more than the other two in the offseason work but also threw some ill-advised balls into traffic that raised an eyebrow or two."

It was previously suggested that Payton could sit Nix through at least the first couple of weeks of Denver's difficult schedule in September. Such a scenario playing out could open the door for Wilson to impress leading up to a Week 4 showdown at none other than the Jets on Sept. 29.