Leading up to the first round of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos were at the center of multiple trade rumors, largely due to tactics employed by head coach Sean Payton.
Payton revealed that he had been actively spreading the notion that Denver was looking to move up in the draft order, although they were actually content with selecting Bo Nix at the 12th pick.
During a press conference, Payton admitted, “I was actively involved in trying to pretend we were moving forward.” This strategy by Payton aimed to create a smokescreen around the Broncos’ true intentions. However, such statements could lead to criticism if Nix does not pan out as a successful franchise quarterback.
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Nonetheless, Payton expressed strong confidence in Nix’s potential, praising his intellect and on-field capabilities. “He’s extremely intelligent, really smart. He handled a lot of the protections,” Payton noted, according to NFL.com. “When you watch him, it’s pretty calming. He’s very efficient, and it’s not just because of the [underneath throws]. You see a ton of NFL throws in their offense.”
Nix concluded his college career at Oregon with impressive stats, completing 77.4 percent of his passes last season for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.
While there may be skepticism surrounding Nix, the confidence that Payton and his coaching staff have in him is what ultimately matters as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season.