Broncos face ultimate decision on Bo Nix as career crossroads approaches, per ESPN report

Earlier this week, a story mentioned that the "viability" of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix "with Denver might hinge on how he plays over the next 11 or so games" and that his performances since Week 1 of the 2026 season have raised "questions about what this player-team marriage looks like long term." 

For a piece published on Friday, Jeff Legwold of ESPN expanded on how the Broncos could handle Nix's status from this fall through and beyond the 2027 NFL Draft. 

Broncos could acquire competition for Bo Nix in 2027

"Sources in and around the [Broncos] say if [Nix's] play doesn't improve dramatically, the most likely scenario would be the Broncos exercising the contract's fifth-year option next spring, then taking a wait-and-see approach into the 2027 season, much as the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers have done this year with C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, respectively," Legwold wrote. "The idea of adding additional quarterback depth in the offseason would be broached in this scenario. Mel Kiper Jr.'s early Big Board for the 2027 NFL draft class includes seven passers in the top 25. It's unclear when or if the Broncos would consider a long look at the top of the quarterback board, given those sorts of meetings between [head coach Sean Payton], general manager George Paton and owner/CEO Greg Penner are months away."

A 2024 first-round draft pick, Nix went 24-10 as a regular-season starter across his first two pro campaigns before the Broncos won four of their first six games this season. However, his regression coming off the broken bone in his right ankle that he suffered this past January resulted in Payton taking play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Davis Webb ahead of what became Denver's 23-17 Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 11.

Nix is ranked near the bottom of the league among qualified quarterbacks in multiple categories, and the fact that he has thus far rushed for just 37 yards on 22 carries this season has led some to wonder if he's dealing with the so-called "yips." Nix has a worrisome history of ankle injuries going back to his high school days. 

Broncos haven't given up on possibly signing Bo Nix to an extension? 

Recent whispers have hinted that Payton may soon sit Nix in favor of backup Jarrett Stidham. That said, it sounds like Payton and Co. haven't closed the door on the idea that Nix could turn things around.

"On the flip side, if Nix and the offense rebound significantly, and the Broncos solidify themselves as Super Bowl contenders, then signing Nix to a long-term deal would get far more consideration," Legwold added. "...Thirteen quarterbacks currently have contracts that average at least $50M per year. Nix's current deal averages $4.653M per year, with a cap hit of $5.084M in 2027. The fifth-year option for a player with Nix's playtime and fewer than two Pro Bowl selections would receive the average of the third- through 20th-highest-paid players at his position -- which is just over $25M this season. That means that the Broncos have one more season when Nix is on a middle-of-the-first-round rookie salary."

For now, Nix will need to concentrate on producing a bounce-back outing when the 4-2 Broncos play at the 2-4 Arizona Cardinals this coming Sunday. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Denver as a 4.5-point road favorite against Arizona.