The Denver Broncos enter the 2025 NFL season with high expectations. After making a surprising run to the playoffs last season with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the way, the team is expected to be a sleeper contender this year.
Nix looked like a budding star last season. He put up big numbers and showed maturity and leadership beyond his years.
When the Broncos selected him with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they could not have expected the kind of year that he put together.
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
In the 17 games he played throughout the regular season, the former Oregon standout threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while completing 66.3 percent of his pass attempts. He also ran for 430 yards and four touchdowns.
Read more: Bears Announce Major Caleb Williams News
Despite putting up such a big rookie season, Nix has received a shockingly bad prediction from an ESPN analyst.
Seth Walder of ESPN revealed a head-turning future prediction for Denver. He believes that Nix will be out as the team’s quarterback in 2027.
“Nix will lose his starting job during the 2027 season, which will be his last as a Bronco. There’s optimism around him now, but there’s reason to be skeptical in the long term,” Walder wrote. “As a rookie, his rushing led him to be decent efficiency-wise. But he ranked 28th in completion percentage over expectation (minus-2.4%) and 22nd in yards per dropback (6.16) despite playing behind a top-tier offensive line. The roster around him is great now, but it won’t always be.”
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this seems to be an over-the-top bold prediction.
Granted, a young quarterback can fall off after their first or second season. Nix may not have performed at an elite level in every statistical category, but he found success and led his team to wins. Walder might be proven right, but the rookie season Nix had was impressive.
Read more: Steelers Could Land 3-Time Pro Bowler After Aaron Rodgers’ Recruiting Push
Sean Payton is also a key part of the equation. He is an excellent quarterback head coach. Nix also fits his system very well.
While there will be a lot of hype and high expectations for Nix in year two, the Broncos have put a talented offense around their second-year signal caller. He could fall off, but Nix will undoubtedly have something to say about this prediction when he takes the field.
For more on the Denver Broncos and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
