As quarterback Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos completed their final OTA practice on Thursday, his confidence on the field was visibly higher than last year. However, Nix remains focused on demonstrating the full extent of his abilities in his second NFL season, knowing there is still much to prove.

During his rookie year, Nix took time to find his rhythm, throwing his first regular-season touchdown only in Week 4 against the New York Jets. Early struggles came as Nix adapted to head coach Sean Payton’s complex playbook, but once he mastered it, his performance improved significantly.

Recap of Bo Nix’s impressive rookie season achievements and challenges

Nix finished his debut season with 3,775 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, along with four rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. His 29 touchdown passes set the second-highest mark ever for an NFL rookie, surpassing Baker Mayfield but just trailing behind AFC West rival Justin Herbert.

More importantly, Nix helped lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade, creating significant momentum for the franchise. Despite the well-earned excitement, Nix stresses that every new season is a fresh challenge.

“It’s a loaded question because each year you start over,

Nix explained.

Nobody really knows what anybody has. That’s why you go out there and play the season. If we were all what people said we were going to be, we wouldn’t play the season. We would just finish with the final standings of what they said we were going to be. So that’s why you play the game. That’s why you go out there and go through a full season. We’re going to learn a lot from this time to the season. We’re going to learn a lot once we get into the season and go. I have a buddy on the team and we talk about it all the time—we tell each other, ‘You’re still a nobody, you haven’t done anything yet.’ We have a lot to prove, and we have a lot to go out there and do. It’s people like that who keep you in check. It’s teammates that have your back and continue to motivate you because he’s right. I haven’t done anything up until this point, and I have a lot to prove and a lot to show.

New season brings fresh challenges with tough schedule and revamped roster

This year, the Broncos face a demanding lineup of opponents, but their revamped roster includes promising new players such as tight end Evan Engram, running back RJ Harvey, and wide receiver Pat Bryant. The team also anticipates significant contributions from returning players Marvin Mims, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele.

Engram’s arrival is particularly noteworthy. Sean Payton hopes to deploy him as a versatile “Joker” player to exploit opportunities in the middle of the field and add unpredictability to the offense.

“He’s been here since he was signed, getting ready and preparing,

Nix said.

That’s been fun to see. So, I’ve gotten to be around him a lot. Then we just started working on the field. Early on in OTAs, you get to come out here and throw routes and just see what he’s like. See what kind of routes he runs and see what he’s thinking. We talk a lot. He’s always asking me about certain things. When you get him out to practice, it’s just seeing how he reacts. I’m excited to include him and add him to what we already have. I think it’ll be good for us.

Bo Nix’s leadership key to Broncos’ offseason movements and future prospects

Bo Nix’s role is already shaping the identity of the Broncos, influencing offseason signings like Engram and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Within the organization, there is a growing consensus that Nix is the franchise quarterback around whom the team’s future will be built.

Despite this elevated status, Nix remains grounded, emphasizing the need for continued hard work, adaptability, and growth as the season approaches. The sense of optimism is palpable within the Broncos’ practice facility in Dove Valley.

The coming months will be critical for Nix and the Broncos as they aim to build on last year’s progress, overcome new challenges, and establish themselves as serious contenders in the AFC West and beyond.