Broncos Praised Over Record-Breaking $85 Million QB Decision

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Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos on the field after facing the Tennessee Titans.

The Denver Broncos are drawing a new round of praise for their historic decision at the most important position: quarterback. More specifically, the Broncos are drawing attention again for their transition from Russell Wilson to Bo Nix.

Nix’s Broncos are 4-2 through six weeks in 2025. Moreover, they are coming off a 10-win season and their first playoff berth in a decade in 2024. It is a stark contrast from where the Broncos were in 2023, with Wilson at quarterback instead of Nix.

Wilson was 6-11 during his tenure as the Broncos’ QB1, but moving on set a precedent.

The Broncos did it anyway. The decision cost them a record $85 million in dead cap space and laid the foundation for their current success.

Broncos Praised Over Move From Russell Wilson to Bo Nix

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold detailed on October 17 how the Broncos were successful in going from Wilson, a now-10-time Pro Bowler, to Nix, the last of six first-round QBs in the 2024 draft.

Legwold broke the Broncos’ success into three key factors: buy-in from ownership, Nix, and working with the draft capital they had after surrendering a package that included two first-round picks and a pair of seconds to the Seattle Seahawks for Wilson in 2022.

They also extended Wilson, giving him a five-year, $245 million contract.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton moved on in Year 1 of that deal, leading to the dead money. Ownership having the “league’s deepest pockets” helps.

“The resources of the Penner group have enabled the Broncos to pony up more upfront money guaranteed at signing in contract extensions than most teams could, multiple league sources said,” Legwold wrote. “Even with the dead money from the Wilson release, the Broncos have guaranteed a combined $228.42 million at signing the past two offseasons” in extensions.

“They could do that because they had the cash for the upfront [guarantees] in those deals available when they wanted to make them, when maybe other people couldn’t have pulled that off,” an anonymous AFC general manager, who also praised ownership, told Legwold. “They had a young core they have kept together to give them continuity when that’s hard to hold together in a cap situation.

“And [the Broncos got] the quarterback.”

From new facilities to a stadium project, both privately funded, and the spending on guaranteed money for extensions and free agents, the Walton-Penner Group has made its mark.

Bo Nix Key to Everything for Broncos

The Broncos’ owners may be the driving force behind the team’s current success. Nix is the ingredient that makes it work for the Broncos, though, tying Legwold’s final two factors together.

Wilson is now a backup on the New York Giants, the Broncos’ opponent in Week 7.

Nix has faced scrutiny over many advanced metrics. He ranks among the worst starting QBs, not just in his draft class, but in the entire league. Still, Nix’s historic rookie season gave the Broncos the confidence to spend as they did.

It is also the reason why their ability to maximize the draft capital they had after acquiring Wilson – and Payton in 2023, for that matter – is viewed through that lens.

Nix’s teammates are fully behind him, and he was an active recruiter this past offseason.

Wilson, meanwhile, is on his third team in three seasons. He could soon suit up for a fourth, since Jaxson Dart took over as QB1 for the Giants. Wilson spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed their game against the Broncos last year due to an injury.

Analysts are starting to see what Raiders fans already knew about Geno Smith

The Las Vegas Raiders have not had a great start to the 2025 NFL season, as they sit at 2-4 after beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. It marked their first victory since the season opener, snapping a losing skid that lasted for over a month.

Many of their issues have had to do with an underwhelming offense and the struggles of Geno Smith. He has cost the Raiders two games alone with three-interception performances. Turnovers have been a major problem for the veteran quarterback, as he leads the league with ten interceptions.

While Las Vegas' coaching staff's faith in Smith has not wavered, it is clear that the franchise should be in the market for its quarterback of the future this offseason. An NFL analyst recently made a claim about his future that will not surprise Raiders fans in the slightest.

NFL analyst makes a prediction on Geno Smith's future that is not surprising to Raiders fans

The Raiders' offseason trade to land Smith was largely met with positive reviews. The move has not paid off, however, as he has been among the worst quarterbacks in the league through six games. Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon labeled him as one of the players with the most to prove over the remainder of the season.

"The 35-year-old has his work cut out for him trying to prove he isn't just a bridge quarterback for a team that may target a signal-caller in the first round of next year's draft, but he's done an abysmal job for one of the league's lowest-scoring teams," Gagnon wrote.

Gagnon does not believe Smith will be able to turn things around and predicted that he is in his final year as an NFL starter.

"Injuries have been a factor, but that alone doesn't get Smith off the hook," Gagnon wrote. "He's only been an average starter the last two-and-a-half years and is living off an aberrational standout 2022 campaign in Seattle. I doubt we will see him in a regular starting role again after 2025."

RELATED: Michael Mayer said what every Raiders fan needed to hear about Geno Smith

Raiders fans are certainly not shocked by the prediction, as some have already called for the team to make a quarterback change. While it appears unlikely that Smith will be benched, it is apparent that he should not be in the team's long-term plans.

In addition to leading the league in interceptions, he ranks 16th in passing yards per game, tied for 21st in touchdowns, 20th in completion percentage, 31st in passer rating and 27th in quarterback rating. Cam Ward is the only player who has played all six games and thrown fewer touchdowns than Smith.

Although he has a relationship with head coach Pete Carroll that dates back to their time with the Seattle Seahawks, the quarterback has not looked the same in 2025. The more he struggles, the higher Las Vegas' chances of drafting his replacement become.

While it is unclear who will be under center for the Raiders in 2026, most fans would agree with Gagnon's assessment that it should not be Smith.

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