Sean Payton dishes on Broncos Week 1 starter amid Zach Wilson and Bo Nix duel
After releasing quarterback Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton acquired Zach Wilson and Bo Nix this off-season. This decision came after Russell Wilson declined to take a pay cut this season.
The Broncos acquired Wilson via trade with the New York Jets and used their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select Nix. The Broncos are one of the few teams that will have a quarterback battle. Payton addressed the media on Tuesday and spoke about the status of the battle:
"[00:06:53] I think when we get into training camp and we get into the preseason games, I think often times the decisions take care of themsevles. The object is to win and I understand the question relative to it but in our league, it's year-to-year. So we're competing to win this year and we're going to make the right decision relative to who gives us that opportunity."
Wilson was the Jets' first-round pick and second-overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. After three lousy seasons with the Jets, he has a chance to rejuvenate his career with the Broncos.
Nix, a rookie, played five seasons of college football for Auburn and Oregon and had a 43-18 starting record in college.
Randall Cobb showed support for Zach Wilson for how the Jets treated him during his last season in New York
Zach Wilson's time in New York was ugly. Coming out of the 2021 NFL draft, many viewed Wilson as a future franchise quarterback.
He quickly became New York's starter, starting in 13 games as a rookie while going 3-10. The next season, he went 5-4 as the team's starter despite throwing for more interceptions than touchdowns in his second-straight season.
This past season, the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers, demoting Wilson as the backup.
Toward the end of the season, when NY was shuffling through quarterbacks with Rodgers injured, rumors had it the Jets would move on and possibly trade Wilson.
As a result, Wilson refused to play in a game toward the end of the season, with the Jets leaking the information. Former NY Jets wide receiver, and teammate of Zach Wilson, Randall Cobb criticized NY for the Wilson leaks.
“It was a lot of like, 'Come on, man, like what are we doing here?'” Cobb said.
In an episode of the 'Bussin with the Boys' podcast, Cobb said that the NY media picked at Zach Wilson like a crow for the three seasons he was there.
Cobb praised Wilson and hoped things would be different for him in Denver.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Sean Payton, Denver Broncos, Randall Cobb and Sportskeeda.