These 3 Growth Areas Could Change Everything for Bo Nix

If you're of the belief that wins are a quarterback stat, then you must have a high opinion of Bo Nix. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has said it before; Nix's job is to win games.

So, when Nix wins, he should get the credit for it. And he's done a lot of winning since the Broncos drafted him in the first round in 2024.

Nix is tied with Russell Wilson for the most wins through a quarterback's first two seasons in NFL history, with 24. Counting playoffs, Nix has 25 victories.

The winning and the statistical production, Nix has in spades. He's the only quarterback in league history with 7,500-plus passing yards, 50-plus touchdowns, and 20 wins through his first two seasons in league annals.

Nix is recovering from the ankle injury that ended his second year prematurely (by two games), but the Broncos say he's ahead of schedule and will be good to go for the offseason training program. With the injury, as well as Davis Webb now calling the plays in his ear, what does Nix's Year 3 development look like?

Payton tried to answer the question on Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings.

“I think, look, his job—and we say this all the time—is lead your team into the end zone, lead your team to wins," Payton said. "I think the tweaks, the changes, the additions, and then understanding the challenges ahead.”

Year 3 Development: What to Watch For

Bo Nix. — Bo Nix looks to make a play vs. the Houston Texans. | Trask Smith / Cal Media / IMAGO / Newscom World

Payton didn't say it, so I will. There are three areas of development I'd like to see from Nix in Year 3. They are as follows:

Pocket poise (hang in there)
Deep-ball accuracy
Middle-of-the-field/seam usage

Webb's shepherding as the new offensive play-caller could help answer the last two items there, especially with Jaylen Waddle arriving via trade. Nix's pocket presence, though, will be up to him to perfect.

As Hall-of-Fame quarterback Kurt Warner said at the Super Bowl, if Nix can learn to hang in the pocket just a few milliseconds longer, it will give the Broncos' receivers the opportunity to get open and allow the passing concepts that Webb and Payton call to fully develop, and should, in theory, redound to better down-the-field results.

Yes, Nix has some room for improvement and a tremendous opportunity for growth. But he's already achieved so much as a third-year pro. It's actually quite remarkable, and it's unprecedented in Broncos history.

Showing development in these areas could take Nix from the 3,700-yard, 25-touchdown marks he's lived at to 4,500-plus and 35 to 40 scores. That's not me minimizing his already-impressive production, but that's when the accolades will pour in.

Facing a First-Place Schedule

Bo Nix and Jalen Hurts. — Bo Nix greets Jalen Hurts after beating the Philadelphia Eagles. | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Another wrinkle in Nix's Year-3 outlook is the Broncos' schedule stiffening dramatically. As the AFC West champions and the team who earned the No. 1 seed in the conference, the Broncos will be playing a first-place schedule, so it'll be interesting to see how Nix responds.

However, I think we already have a good understanding of how Nix fares against higher-quality opponents. Last season, the Broncos' first big win that captured the NFL's attention was that Week 5 comeback victory over the then-reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Nix couldn't quite get it done in Weeks 2 and 3 against the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, but then he turned it on and won 11 straight games. Along the way, Nix vanquished the Eagles, Dallas Cowboys (the NFL's top offense at the time), the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Green Bay Packers.

Nix also led a historic comeback over the New York Giants in Week 7, putting 33 points on the board in the fourth quarter, and becoming the first quarterback in league history to pass for two and rush for two touchdowns in a single quarter (four total scores). That game was insane, but Nix defied the odds, and somehow emerged victorious.

And let's not forget the signature performance Nix turned in vs. the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs. After getting embarrassed by Josh Allen and company the year prior in the wildcard round, Nix went blow-for-blow and vanquished the Bills in overtime, 33-30.

My point? Nix has now been exposed to the crucible. He's been through the refiner's fire and has now been shaped into something else — something stronger and sharper.

That first-place schedule shouldn't concern Broncos fans too much. Nix has proven his competence against quality opponents, and he's surrounded by an excellent defense and special teams unit.

The Missing Achievements

The only things missing from Nix's resume through two years are accolades (no Pro Bowls or All-Pro nods) and a Super Bowl ring. He came tantalizingly close to a Lombardi Trophy last season, which should fuel him even more in Year 3.

The individual accolades will come, especially if he shows development in those three areas I mentioned in Year 3. The 2026 season could be Nix's coming-out party relative to his NFL profile.

If nothing else, Nix certainly has the league's attention now.

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