Sean Payton Praises Bo Nix After Playoff Loss: Broncos Found QB 'That Can Lead Us'

Sean Payton believes the Denver Broncos have found their next great quarterback in rookie Bo Nix.

"I know this, he's very conscientious. ... I think it's all in front of him," Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wednesday, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I've said this before, I think we've found that player that can lead us and be what we need relative to having the success that we're used to having. I think we found him."

Some questioned the Broncos' decision to take Nix, a 24-year-old player out of Oregon, with the 12th pick in the draft, but the former Heisman finalist quickly showed why Denver was so high on him.

He had a few rough performances early in the year, which is expected out of a rookie quarterback, but he finished with 3,775 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He added 430 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Nix's 29 touchdowns were the second-most ever by a rookie, only behind Justin Herbert who had 31 in 2020.

But Nix did more than just put up good numbers, he made the Broncos a winning team.

Denver finished 10-7 and reached the playoffs, snapping an eight-year playoff drought and leading the team to 10 wins for the first time since 2015.

The season ultimately didn't end how the Brocnos wished as they lost to the Buffalo Bills 31-7, but Payton has every reason to believe Nix can eventually make Denver a Super Bowl contender.