Friday Faceoff: Do the Broncos have a franchise quarterback in Bo Nix?

Mark Kiszla, sports columnist

Answer: No

The weakest link of this Broncos team? Right now, it’s quarterback Bo Nix.

You could argue Nix lacks Grade A offensive weapons. And you’d be correct. But by almost any statistical standard of measuring his position, Nix grades out to a gentleman’s “C.”

You could argue it takes time for a quarterback to grow up in the NFL. And you’d be correct. But my eyes tell me that Nix is a game manager, not a game changer. He’s the king of the checkdown (and I’ve got the stats to prove it). In the pantheon of league QBs, Nix is closer to Mac Jones than Patrick Mahomes.

After two dozen starts at the pro level, Nix’s record is 14-10. And that ain’t shabby. Is he capable of making the Pro Bowl at some point in his career? Yes. And with a championship-caliber defense, could the Broncos win the Super Bowl in the short-term future with Nix running the offense? Absolutely, especially while Nix plays under the terms of his rookie contract, which doesn’t elevate his salary cap hit to $5.9 million until his fourth season.

The NFL, however, is a bottom-line business. After dragging their feet, the Cowboys gave Dak Prescott a four-year, $240 million contract in 2024. And after careful consideration, the Niners splurged on a five-year, $265 million contract for Brock Purdy earlier this year. Those were big-money mistakes, because Prescott and Purdy are good NFL quarterbacks, but not great ones. In a league with a salary cap, it’s very difficult to see Nix ever being worth $60 million per year to the Broncos.

Chris Schmaedeke, digital sports editor

Answer: Yes

As long as Sean Payton is the coach of the Broncos, Nix is the Denver quarterback.

So as of now, Nix is the franchise quarterback because Payton believes he can turn his signal-caller into an All-Pro.

It was easy to worry about Nix after watching the Monday Night Football doubleheader last week. Michael Penix Jr. led the Falcons to a win over the Bills while the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and Bears’ Caleb Williams went back and forth in a Chicago win. All three players were taken before Nix in the 2024 draft and had big moments on a national stage.

I guess we forgot Nix leading the Broncos to an upset win over the Eagles before his dud against the Jets, for which Payton shouldered the blame as much as Nix.

Being the quarterback of the Broncos is a big deal, and Nix seems to be up to the task. He probably won’t be Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, but those guys are difficult to find. Nix usually puts the Broncos in position to win, and that’s something Denver hasn’t had since Peyton Manning.

Nix is not a superstar, at least not right now, but he is on the right trajectory to be the leader of the Broncos for a long time. And that can be the definition of a franchise quarterback in today’s NFL.