Broncos HC Sean Payton raves about one QB's progress at OTAs

It sounds like Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix is a quick study.

"[Nix] is farther along than most would be," Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Thursday at OTAs, via DNVR Sports. "He's extremely smart. He's picked it up very quickly."

Considering that 24-year-old Nix is more experienced than the typical rookie QB, it shouldn't be surprising that he's making rapid progress. Per Fox Sports , Nix made the most starts (61) in FBS history in five seasons at Oregon and Auburn.

Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reported that Nix has split first-team reps with QBs Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, so it's still unclear who leads the competition for the starting job. Regardless, don't be shocked if Nix — the 12th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft — is the Week 1 starter.

Payton's system thrives when it has an accurate QB who takes care of the ball. Per Pro Football Focus, in 14 games in 2023, Nix posted the FBS' highest adjusted completion percentage ( 85.5 percent ) and lowest turnover-worthy play rate (one percent).

Plus, former Denver Broncos QB and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning thinks Nix would benefit from playing right away.

"I think any quarterback would tell you that being out on the field is where you learn more things than you do sitting on the sideline," Manning told Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post on Wednesday. "So when that happens for Bo and these quarterbacks, Sean will make that decision, but I do think experience is your best teacher."

Since Manning retired in 2016, Denver has rotated through 13 different starting QBs. If Nix keeps improving and becomes the answer, that would be ideal for the Broncos.