The Denver Broncos called Bo Nix the starting quarterback on Tuesday. It appears that Broncos head coach Sean Payton has finally found a playmaker in the draft who is ready to lead the franchise as a rookie.
In two preseason games, Nix led Denver’s offense to points in six of seven drives and had the best passer rating of all rookie quarterbacks at 117.5. Focus on professional footballHis play on the field speaks for itself and has earned him the respect of veterans in the locker room, including Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
Immediately after the Nix news broke on Tuesday, Surtain revealed how the rookie won over the locker room and secured his place in the starting position.
“I think Bo has done a great job of taking the lead on offense,” Surtain said. “You can just tell how confident he is. You see it every day. How his confidence carries over to the whole offense. I just think he builds the confidence of the veteran players. Obviously Coach (Payton) made a decision today, but I think all the quarterbacks did a great job. I know it’s a close race, but I think Bo will get it done.”
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Confidence is everything in the NFL. It’s remarkable that a rookie quarterback exudes so much of it that veterans notice how it affects the team around him. It’s obvious that the Broncos functioned much more smoothly and energetically when Nix was on the field with the first or second offense than they did under the leadership of Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson.
Nix’s poise and confidence weren’t the only things that caught Surtain’s attention. The young cornerback also revealed when he knew Nix could play in this league and named a few other qualities that made Nix a starter.
“I saw it early,” Surtain said. “He obviously has poise, the IQ, all the fundamentals and all that. I just think he came in confident and ready to take control of the offense. I saw it day in and day out.”
The Broncos’ best player has confirmed all the rumors about Nix’s style of play, attitude and work ethic, which Broncos fans can rejoice over. He adds substance and credibility to Payton’s post-draft assertions that Nix would be a perfect fit for the Broncos.
Finally, Surtain shared his memories of the 2019 Iron Bowl, when his Alabama Crimson Tide faced Nix’s Auburn Tigers.
“Yeah, I was a little upset about the game, I’m not going to lie (laughs),” Surtain said. “It was a tough game for everybody. Bo and I definitely had battles in college from my sophomore year to my junior year. What I saw in him is his versatility. Obviously he can run and throw, but he knows how to win games and that’s what he does best. I’m looking forward to it being in play on Sundays, I’m so excited for him.”
It’s clear that Surtain respects Nix and believes he can lead this franchise into the future. The first step was earning the starting spot, and now Nix’s main goal is to keep it.
Week 1 will be a real test of confidence and ability when you The Seattle Seahawks on the road, but fans should be optimistic about the Broncos’ first rookie quarterback starting in Week 1 since John Elway.
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