The Broncos finally gave Bo Nix the kind of weapon their offense had been missing. Jaylen Waddle can genuinely stretch the field in ways this team couldn't last year. But that doesn't mean Nix is suddenly going to turn into a completely different quarterback.

Denver gave up a first-round pick as part of the package for Waddle because the offense needed more speed and more ways to punish defenses. Sutton was still a reliable target last season, and the younger receivers had their moments. Still, Denver just didn't have the kind of player who could make defenders worry about what might happen 20 or 30 yards downfield.

Nix put up solid numbers in his second season, throwing for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns, but the efficiency wasn't nearly as impressive. His completion rate dropped to 63.4%, his 6.4 yards per attempt ranked 28th in the league, and his passer rating fell from 93.3 as a rookie to 87.8. The Broncos still went 14-3, thanks in part to a remarkable number of close wins.

Waddle should help Nix in Year 3. The bigger question is how much that help will matter — and whether a better offense can keep Denver anywhere near last season’s 14-win total.

Waddle Changes The Throws That Felt Too Hard

The easy part of Waddle’s fit is obvious: He’s fast. He’s averaged 15 yards per catch since 2022, the third-highest mark in the league, and he still put up 910 yards and six touchdowns in a pretty rough Miami offense last season. Defenses can’t just keep sending extra help toward Courtland Sutton when Waddle can fly across the field or run past a corner before the safety has time to do anything about it.

But his biggest impact might come on the plays that don’t look like obvious deep shots. Forty percent of Waddle’s receiving yards last season came in the intermediate part of the field. None of Denver’s top four receivers got to 14%there. That’s a pretty good snapshot of where this offense has been too easy to defend.

Nix threw 64.5% of his passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage last season, including 121 attempts behind it. He completed just 44.1% of his throws that traveled at least 10 yards. Waddle can give him a legitimate option on the in-breaking routes Denver didn’t attack enough, then turn a routine completion into the explosive play the Broncos were hoping to get from yet another screen.

And when defenses start accounting for Waddle, everybody else should get a little more room. Sutton can settle in as a big, physical second option. Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims can hunt for better matchups. Even Lil’Jordan Humphrey can develop without every good practice turning into a full-blown breakout prediction.

Evan Engram is where the expectations need to stay reasonable. Payton called him the interior “Joker”, someone who could open up the middle against two-high safety looks when Denver signed him in 2025. Instead, he finished with 50 catches, 461 yards, and one touchdown. Waddle should help create more space, but the Broncos already learned that calling someone a mismatch doesn’t mean the offense will consistently get him the ball.

Year 3 Should Be More Efficient, Not Unrecognizable

Denver doesn’t need Nix to turn into a completely different quarterback. His quick processing and ability to avoid sacks are a big reason this offense survives so many ugly possessions. The next step is getting more out of those strengths instead of having him bail out of plays and settle for the checkdown too quickly.

Payton and new offensive coordinator Davis Webb have spent the offseason working on Nix’s footwork and making sure it lines up with each route. Last season, there were times when Nix hit the top of his drop before the receiver was ready to break, or locked onto the easy throw before the better option had a chance to develop. Waddle can create more space, but he can’t help if Nix has already moved on from him in the progression.

A realistic jump for Nix would be another season around 4,000 yards, somewhere in the high 20s for touchdowns and an average closer to 6.8 or 7 yards per attempt. His attempts could also come down from the league-leading 612 if Denver can find a more reliable running game.

That’s the version of Nix the Broncos need: not a superhero, just a quarterback who gets more out of the easy plays.

A Better Nix Can Still Lose More Games

This is the part Denver’s 14-3 record can hide. The Broncos tied an NFL record with 11 one-score wins, and they trailed in 15 games. Nix deserves plenty of credit for leading the league in game-winning drives, but some of those wins needed a little help, too. The Giants missed an extra point before his winning drive, the Raiders missed a game-tying field goal, and Washington’s failed two-point try decided an overtime game.

That stuff happens. It just usually doesn’t happen that often again the next year.

The defense also covered for some of Denver’s quieter offensive stretches. They finished third in points allowed, led the NFL with 68 sacks, and became the league’s best red-zone unit. That group should still be good with Pat Surtain II, Nik Bonitto, and Zach Allen. But matching last year’s version of the defense is a different challenge. Denver had the NFL’s third-healthiest defense and lost John Franklin-Myers and his 7.5 sacks.

If the defense goes from elite to just very good, the improved offense might just be replacing what the defense gives back. Add in the normal weirdness of close games, and a better Nix season could still end with 10 or 11 wins instead of 14.

The Broncos open the 2026 season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, Sept. 14th at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.

All stats courtesy of NFL Pro.

Want more NFL coverage? Head to Sports Pass for the latest. And for more stories that keep you informed and entertained, YourLifeBuzz has you covered.