Sean Payton has never been shy about expressing confidence in Bo Nix.
He did the night Nix was drafted, saying at No. 10 as part of trying to ensure Nix made it to No. 12.
He did last summer in proclaiming that Nix would be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the NFL in the next two years.
This summer, Payton took to social media to lambaste an NFL analyst who said Nix looked like the same player he was in college, writing, “PAYTON.” After Denver’s preseason finale, he called that assertion “crazy”,” referenced “basement podcasts with the beer logo,” and said, “Everything is the opposite of what he was saying.”
Asked Wednesday why others had such mixed opinions on his quarterback — — Payton had thoughts.
“Itap hard for me to answer that, but there’s two things I think can happen,” he said. “You can predetermine based on how you saw him coming out (of the draft) and slow to move off your draft opinion, which is very normal. And then oftentimes you’re not exposed to certain players based on television.”
Veteran tight end Evan Engram said Wednesday that he gives “no energy” to what other people think about Nix and said, “We know what we’ve got.”
Payton thinks so, too, of course.
“Itap the one cool thing about our sport, though,” Payton said. “You can argue, any position, top 10, all those discussions. Generally, time will give you those answers. We love what we’re seeing (from Nix). They’re measured by wins and measured by certain things and ultimately thatap how history will be written about any of them, but quarterbacks specifically.”
ESPN’s list did feature five Broncos: DT Zach Allen at No. 79, OLB Nik Bonitto at No. 56, RG Quinn Meinerz at No. 53, LT Garett Bolles at No. 37 and CB Pat Surtain II at No. 7.
Taysom Hill? Not at the moment
Payton earlier this offseason said he planned to check on long-time New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill after he was released by the Saints earlier this offseason.
Payton did talk to Hill at Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony last month, he said Wednesday, but said there hasn’t been any movement toward Hill potentially playing for Denver.
“No updates. Nothing. I would let you know if we had anything,” Payton said. “I talked to him at the Hall of Fame, but it was really just with a group of people.”
Payton, though, said he believes the Broncos’ current group of tight ends can operate at a high level.
“I kind of like where we’re at,” he said. “I thought retaining Lucas (Krull) was important to the practice squad. I like where that room’s at.”
Jarrett Stidham is the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback
The Broncos have three quarterbacks on their active roster, but Jarrett Stidham is still the backup, Payton said Wednesday.
After Friday’s preseason finale, Payton was noncommittal between Stidham and Sam Ehlinger as the primary backup to Bo Nix.
On Wednesday, Payton said Stidham would be the second into a game, “now.”
J.K. Dobbins is ready to roll
Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins was one of a small group of players who did not see any snaps in the preseason.
Dobbins missed one day of practice with what Payton called a “soft tissue” injury, but otherwise has been healthy through camp.
“He’s moving well and he’s doing really well,” Payton said Wednesday.
