Peyton Manning Gets Real About Broncos QB Bo Nix Amid Sean Payton’s Remarks
Bo Nix has won over much, if not all, of the Denver Broncos fan base in just one season, and he is set up to take another meaningful step forward in Year 2. Moreover, former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning believes Nix has the right makeup to succeed.
Manning has consistently endorsed Nix. Still, the two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer lauded the 2024 No. 12 overall pick for settling the QB carousel that lasted 9 years.
That was when Manning retired, and the Broncos cycled through 12 quarterbacks.
Peyton Manning Praises Broncos QB Bo Nix
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the bench against the San Francisco 49ers.
“Bo is made of the right stuff. He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way. And all of it should help as he moves forward in his career,” Manning said, per The Denver Post’s Troy Renck on September 1. “I am just happy that Bo is the established starter. For a number of years, they had quarterback competitions. That’s hard on the receivers, the coaches, the play-caller, and the quarterback. Now, they’ve got their guy.”
Manning is not the only legendary QB to praise Nix. Drew Brees, whom Nix flew out to train with this offseason, also offered strong thoughts on the Broncos’ young star’s outlook.
Nix completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during the 2024 regular season. He is the Broncos franchise rookie leader in passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns.
Manning’s comments notably came just ahead of Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s. Payton also praised Nix and, specifically, the progress he has made with the Broncos from Year 1 to Year 2.
Bo Nix ‘More Comfortable’ in Year 2
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warm up before facing the San Francisco 49ers.
Payton hand-picked Nix after the QB’s history-making college career gave way to impressive in-person meetings. The duo helped snap the Broncos’ playoff drought, in addition to stopping the revolving door under center.
Payton is also pleased with how Nix has progressed from his encouraging rookie season.
Per DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens on September 1, Payton cited Nix operating “More efficiently. More quickly. More decisively” in and out of the huddle,noting he is more “comfortable.”
“I don’t think it’s putting more on his plate,” Payton said, per 9News’ Mike Klis on September 1. “If I used a good analogy, it would be a certain play a year ago, the same play this year, he’s out of the huddle a little quicker with the call, maybe he understands the nuances of the play, and has seen the cut ups of it all year and is a little bit more comfortable with the same play from a year ago.”
If the Broncos are going to deliver on the lofty expectations they have for themselves, Nix taking another step in his development is critical.
Bo Nix, Offense Broncos’ ‘Biggest Concern’ After Preseason
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before facing the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite his effectiveness as a rookie and increased comfort in the NFL and the Broncos’ offense, Nix still has plenty to prove at this level. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold called the Broncos’ defense their “biggest strength.”
However, Legwold noted potential warning signs about the starting offense that appeared in the preseason. He called it the Broncos’ “biggest concern.”
That includes reps with Nix at the helm against vanilla (i.e., nonexistent) defensive game plans.
“The Broncos were among the league leaders in total yards during the preseason, but that has been mostly a product of the second- and third-team offenses. The first-team offense has mostly looked meh in limited snaps,” Legwold wrote on August 31.
“Nix is closer to finding a rhythm, and focused game-planning will help, but the Broncos’ offense has had issues manufacturing drives and finding explosive plays against its first-team defense. If that continues against opponents, it might be difficult for coach Sean Payton’s team to have the fast start he desires.”
Nix, Payton, and the Broncos will open the 2025 regular season against the Tennessee Titans and 2025 No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Cam Ward.
Chiefs Named Top Trade Partner for Cowboys 1st-Round DT
The Dallas Cowboys thought they were drafting their next defensive cornerstone when they spent a first-round pick on Mazi Smith in 2023.
He seemed like a rare mix of size and athleticism — the type of player who could anchor a D-line for years. Two seasons later, that has yet to happen. Smith has shown glimpses of what made him such a coveted prospect, but questions linger about whether Dallas has truly figured out how to use him—or if he’s simply not the right fit for the defensive schemes that have cycled through since his arrival.
That uncertainty has opened the door for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs to take a long look.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named his top 10 trade candidates heading into Week 1, and he has Smith at No. 3. He also has the Chiefs as a top trade partner.
More on the Idea of the Kansas City Chiefs Potentially Trading for Mazi Smith
After the Cowboys shocked the NFL world by trading superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, some think it could mean Dallas is ready to trade more players in a fire sale-type situation. Smith could be at the top of that list, too.
Knox thinks a 2026 fifth-round pick would be enough for Dallas compensation-wise to make a trade.
“Smith is now listed as a backup and could probably benefit from a change of scenery,” Knox wrote on September 3. “The Cowboys, meanwhile, should be willing to listen to any reasonable offer for him since the 24-year-old doesn’t look like a long-term building block in Dallas. Is Smith the most proven player on our list? No, but he’s a young former first-round pick who plays a premium position and who should be available at a relative bargain.”
A Look Back at Smith’s Career So Far
GettyShould the Kansas City Chiefs try to trade for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith?
Smith hasn’t been a total bust, but he hasn’t been the dominant presence the Cowboys envisioned, either.
Drafted 26th overall in 2023 out of Michigan, Smith arrived scary measurables: He’s 6-foot-3, 337 pounds, and has the agility of a player 100 pounds lighter.
His rookie season was mostly spent adjusting to the speed of the NFL. He played in all 17 games, starting three, finishing with 13 tackles and a sack. Year 2 was better. Under then-DC Mike Zimmer, Smith started all 17 games and amadsed 41 tackles (four for loss), three QB hits and another sack.
Now, he’ll have yet another DC in Matt Eberflus, and the roster around him has reshuffled a bit with the addition of Clark. That could very well make him expendable.
Should Kansas City Look Into Smith?
The Chiefs already have Chris Jones, the heart of their defensive front, but the depth chart behind him isn’t the greatest. Derrick Nnadi has been reliable as a run-stopper, but he’s on a short-term deal and doesn’t offer much upside. Same with Jerry Tillery.
The big-bodied Smith has strong hands and can be disruptive in the A-gap, and adding him would give Kansas City a developmental anchor who’d help Jones stay fresh.
The way Steve Spagnuolo structures his defense might also be a good thing for Smith, as Spags likes to mix heavier fronts without sacrificing the ability to unleash his pass rushers.
From a fiscal perspective, Smith’s contract is team-friendly—$3.62 million against the cap in 2025 with control through the fifth-year option. If all it would take is a fifth-rounder for Kansas City to trade for him, that would be a low-cost gamble on a player who still has untapped potential.
Sometimes, a change in scenery is all it takes for a talent like Smith to find his footing.
