Tag: Bo Nix

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NFL (American Football)

Broncos Lock in Courtland Sutton With $92M Deal as Star Receiver Becomes Bo Nix’s Top Weapon

Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (NFL)

The Denver Broncos have officially secured wide receiver Courtland Sutton with a four-year, $92 million contract extension, ending months of speculation. The deal, finalized on the first Monday of training camp, includes $41 million in guaranteed money.

This guarantees Sutton’s $14 million earnings for the 2025 season and adds $27 million over the four additional years. Sutton, who had entered the final year of his previous four-year, $60.8 million contract, is now locked in through the 2029 season, solidifying his position as a franchise cornerstone.

Sutton Shined as Nix’s Trusted Target Amid Ongoing Talks About Contract Extension

Sutton emerged as rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s most reliable target during the 2024 season, particularly excelling on crucial third downs. Nix posted a QBR of 93 when targeting Sutton in those situations, a stark contrast to the 37 QBR when throwing to other receivers.

Bo Nix
Bo Nix (NFL)

Sutton finished the season with 81 receptions, 1,081 yards, and eight touchdowns, second-best in his career, highlighting his value as both a dependable target and a playmaker under pressure. He also ranked among league leaders in tight-window targets, underscoring his role in contested-catch situations.

Though Sutton reported for training camp on time and participated in early practices, his limited involvement in 11-on-11 drills hinted at ongoing contract discussions. While negotiations progressed behind the scenes, both parties maintained a cooperative tone.

Head coach Sean Payton confirmed that communication remained strong and reiterated throughout the offseason that a new deal would come “at the right time.” Sutton, who has long expressed a desire to finish his career in Denver, had made it clear he was unwilling to play under the terms of his old contract.

Sutton’s Leadership Anchors Broncos’ Offense and Guides the Next Generation of Receivers

A second-round draft pick in 2018, Sutton has become one of the longest-tenured and most respected players on the team. His dedication to the Broncos remained evident even when he skipped voluntary workouts last offseason to prompt contract discussions.

Despite this, he fulfilled all performance incentives and maintained a leadership presence in the locker room. Payton praised Sutton’s work ethic, toughness, and consistency, calling him a valuable resource for younger players and a role model within the organization.

With Sutton firmly entrenched as the offensive leader, the Broncos have also made moves to strengthen their receiving corps. The team signed tight end Evan Engram in free agency and drafted Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant, adding depth and versatility.

Marvin Mims Jr., along with 2024 draft picks Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele, are expected to take on larger roles. However, Sutton remains the top target for Bo Nix and a key piece of Denver’s evolving offense, both as a go-to playmaker and a veteran presence guiding the next generation.

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NFL (American Football)

College experience played a key role in helping Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix make an instant impact in the NFL

Jayden Daniels stands on the sidelines in the 2nd half

Jayden Daniels threw 1,438 passes over 55 college games in five seasons. He’s no ordinary rookie because of the experience he gained playing a lot of football before coming to the NFL.

Bo Nix, who started for five years at Auburn and Oregon, is in the same situation.

Both quarterbacks led their teams to the playoffs and are among the five finalists for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Daniels Leads Washington to NFC Championship

Daniels has the Washington Commanders in their first NFC Championship game in 33 years. They’ve already upset the Buccaneers and the No. 1 seed Lions on the road, and now, they can reach the Super Bowl with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Nix Ends Broncos’ Playoff Drought

Nix helped the Denver Broncos break an eight-year playoff drought, though they lost to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.

Impact of College Experience

Daniels and Nix made an immediate impact in the NFL due to their extensive college experience as starters for four or more years.

“It helped out a lot, just to be able to see different looks, see different defenses, go through a lot of different things,” Daniels shared with The Associated Press. “The greatest teacher in life is failure so to be able to go out there, fail a couple times, get some reps… All those reps that built up helped me get to this moment today.”

Daniels’ College Career and Heisman Win

Daniels played three seasons at Arizona State before transferring to LSU for his final two years. In 2023, he won the Heisman Trophy and was selected No. 2 overall, behind Caleb Williams.

Eli Manning Praises Daniels

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning praised Daniels for his ability to win playoff games as a rookie. “A rookie quarterback coming in and winning playoff games, I think that’s one of the hardest things to do in the NFL in your first playoff experience,” Manning said. “To go out there and win two of them is pretty impressive.”

Manning also highlighted Daniels’ composure. “Jayden has been impressive with what he’s been able to do, getting the ball out on time when he has to, be able to extend plays and scramble and run when he has to.

Bo Nix talks in the news conference

So it just seems like he’s got a great control of that offense and making big plays at critical moments. It just doesn’t seem like the environment or the situation is too big for him. He seems very calm, very relaxed, and I think that’s because he feels confident in what he’s doing out there and what he expects to happen.”

Daniels’ Poise in Clutch Moments

Daniels has thrown a touchdown pass in the final 30 seconds or overtime in five games this season, showing poise that is uncommon for most rookies.

“That’s just second nature, part of who I am every day,” Daniels said. “I’m consistent every day. When I prepare for moments like that, I’m not thinking at all. I’m just going out there and reacting and just playing football.”

Nix’s College Journey and Transition to NFL

Nix played three seasons at Auburn before finishing his college career at Oregon. He threw 1,936 passes during his college career and was selected by the Broncos with the 12th overall pick. Nix didn’t disappoint in his rookie year and helped Denver turn things around after the release of Russell Wilson.

“I was fortunate to play in five offenses in five years in college, so the transition and the new verbiage was just something else that I had to learn,” Nix told The Associated Press. “I’d run a lot of different plays in the past so I just had to connect the dots and put them together and match the word with the play.”

Learning from College to NFL

Nix’s experience learning different offensive systems in college helped him make a smooth transition to the NFL under coach Sean Payton.

“Ultimately, that’s developed me and helped me learn and grow and learn how to process different things and learn how to process different play-calls and different play-callers,” he said. “It’s important to have a rhythm with your play-caller and to understand what he wants and it takes time to get that connection. I felt as the season went on we had a great offensive play-caller-quarterback connection.”

Manning on College Offenses

Manning, who played at Ole Miss from 2000-03, noted that college offenses are now more similar to pro offenses than when he played. “The more reps you get, the more defenses you see, the more experience you get with learning an offense,” Manning said.

“The college offensive systems in the NFL and college offensive systems aren’t that different anymore. It doesn’t take necessarily years. It’s just kind of learning about defenses, learning about different blitzes.”

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NFL (American Football)

In his playoff debut in Buffalo, Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix faces a tough but important lesson in defeat

Bo Nix reacts in the 1st half

Bo Nix’s first NFL playoff game started off well but ended in disappointment.

The Denver rookie quarterback threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to his former college teammate Troy Franklin on the first drive of Sunday’s wild-card playoff game. However, the Broncos didn’t score again and lost 31-7 to the Buffalo Bills.

“A lot to grow from, a lot to learn from,” Nix said.

If there is anything positive, the 24-year-old first-round pick now has something to build on after helping lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since their 2015 Super Bowl-winning season.

“I haven’t been in the league long enough to know how far off we are,” Nix said, noting his 29 touchdown passes were just two shy of the NFL rookie regular-season record. “I just know we competed against some really good teams this year.

Next year’s going to be a new year and we just got to go and compete like we did this year,” he added. “To make the playoffs was a special moment for this group. It’s something we can build off of. … Our goals are changing.”

Nix finished the game completing 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards and led the Broncos with 43 rushing yards, but was unable to keep the momentum going after the opening drive.

Denver’s offense managed just 154 yards on its last seven drives, four of which ended in punts, two failed on fourth down, and Wil Lutz missed a 50-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 10 just before halftime.

Coach Sean Payton said the next step for the Broncos is to win the AFC West to secure home playoff games.

“We got beat today. Especially in the postseason, it’s always a bitter pill to swallow,” Payton said. “It’s got to fuel you and light a fire in the direction we need to go. One of the things we learned early on is we got to find a way to play these games at home.”

Bo Nix talks in the news conference

The Broncos now have a 2-7 record in the wild-card round, with all seven losses coming on the road. Denver has lost five straight road playoff games.

With the offense struggling, Denver’s defense had a hard time putting pressure on Josh Allen, sacking him just twice. The Broncos wore down as Buffalo had a 23-minute advantage in time of possession.

“We never really had an answer to stop their running game,” Payton said. “And when you’re playing a game like that, you’re not rushing the passer nearly as much as you’ve been accustomed to.”

The Broncos converted only 2 of 9 third downs against a Bills defense ranked 29th in that category.

One of those conversions came on the opening series when Nix found Courtland Sutton for a 19-yard gain on third-and-8, two plays before Nix connected with Franklin for the touchdown.

“You go to a new level, you get to the NFL, I expected it to be tough,” Nix said. “But I was pleased how at the end of the day, it’s just football.”

That’s the mindset Nix plans to take into his next playoff game.

“The biggest thing is that we can make all the hype we want about playoff football. But it’s just another game. It’s just another AFC game,” Nix said. “So I think in the future, it’s treat it like just another game, like it’s the next one on your schedule. You go out there and play.

There’s nothing different. There’s no special thing because it’s a playoff. It’s just a football game. That’s encouraging to know.”

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NFL (American Football)

The Denver Broncos are close to securing their first playoff spot since their Super Bowl 50 victory in 2016

Denver Broncos players in the 1st half

The Denver Broncos are close to making the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season.

This would break the longest playoff drought following a Super Bowl win, and they can finally end it with a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) on Thursday night.

A win would also give the Broncos (9-5) their first five-game winning streak since they beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in that Super Bowl, which was their third title.

“Punching their ticket to the playoffs would be absolutely amazing, especially my first year here, too,” said safety Brandon Jones, who joined the team in free agency in March. “I am just super happy and super grateful for this opportunity to be here.

I truly just love every guy in here, and I think we deserve it. We have put the work in. We have a bond that goes beyond the field, and I am just happy that is finally able to be shown off.”

While Jones and other players think about the playoff spot, seventh-year player Courtland Sutton isn’t looking too far ahead.

Denver Broncos players celebrate in the 2nd half

“Naw, not at all. I mean, shoot, we’ve got a big game Thursday, another opportunity to step in the direction of where we ultimately want to go, but man, there’s so much more ahead of us,” Sutton said Tuesday.

One thing Sutton is happy about, however, is that the Broncos, with a better than 90% chance of making the playoffs, are in control of their own fate.

“It is a good feeling to be in a space of if we take care of what we need to take care of, it’s not like a ‘we need six teams to lose and do this and do that,’” Sutton said. “So, it’s nice to almost be able to control our own destiny. But with that being said, we do have some big games to finish the season.”

After the Chargers game, the Broncos will head to Cincinnati for another prime-time match against the Bengals (6-8) on Dec. 28, followed by a season finale at home against the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1), who have won the AFC West for nine straight years.

The Broncos ended one long losing streak on Sunday with a 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. This marks their first winning season since 2016, when they went 9-7 under coach Gary Kubiak.

“I didn’t even know about that,” said right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who joined the Broncos last year as a free agent from the 49ers. “I guess mathematically, we can’t go under .500 now, which is cool. It’s not really about that. That’s a consolation prize to me. What it’s really about is getting into the dance, and we have a chance to do that in these next few weeks.”

“It’s been tough here for a while,” pass rusher Jonathon Cooper said. “So, the fact that we’re getting this thing turned around, I’m sure it’s great for the fans and shout-out to Broncos Country.”

Bo Nix runs with the ball in the 2nd half

Tight end Nate Adkins, who scored a touchdown last week, called the Broncos’ win a double boost because it gave them a two-game lead over the Colts, plus the tiebreaker, in the AFC wild-card race.

“This was the team that was running on our heels,” Adkins said. “But we’re more so looking to catch teams. Getting up to the five (seed), get the best seed possible. So obviously, just turn our focus to the Chargers.”

The Broncos and Chargers swapped playoff positions last weekend, with Denver moving up to sixth place and the Chargers, who lost to Tampa Bay, dropping to seventh and the final spot. Baltimore (9-5), which beat Denver on Nov. 3, is in fifth place.

While Sutton isn’t allowing himself to think too much about the future, eighth-year left tackle Garett Bolles, the longest-tenured Bronco, imagines what it will feel like to finally make the playoffs.

“It means the world to me, you know, I haven’t done it since I’ve been here so to get back to where we belong and to bring our amazing fans the opportunity to cheer for us deep in the playoffs, it’s awesome, it’s an awesome feeling,” Bolles said. “We just got to focus on one game at a time. We got a big game coming up this week.”

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NFL (American Football)

The Denver Broncos have reached a four-year extension agreement with left tackle Garett Bolles to help safeguard rookie QB Bo Nix

Denver Williams and Bo Nix celebrates a touchdown in the 1st half

The Denver Broncos extended left tackle Garett Bolles’ contract for four years on Thursday, securing an important player to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Bolles has been with the Broncos since he was drafted from Utah as the 20th overall pick in 2017. He now has an opportunity to help the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 win in the 2015 season.

Currently, the Broncos (8-5) hold the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC and can improve their position with a win against the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) on Sunday.

Bolles had a rough start in Denver but has become a reliable pass protector. So far this season, he’s allowed just one sack and 24 quarterback pressures over 13 starts. His 4.9 percent quarterback pressure rate is the second-lowest among tackles with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps this season, according to NextGen Stats.

With good protection, Nix leads all rookie quarterbacks with 277 completions, 2,842 passing yards, 22 offensive touchdowns, and 17 passing touchdowns.

Garett Bolles (NFL)

Bolles earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors in 2020. On social media, he shared, “Broncos Country, It’s been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And … I’m not leaving. The show goes on!”

Since 2017, Bolles has allowed the sixth-fewest sacks (36) among tackles with at least 3,100 snaps.

With Bolles’ extension, all five of the Broncos’ starting offensive linemen are now signed through next season. Guard Quinn Meinerz also signed a four-year extension in July.

In addition to Bolles, the Broncos extended cornerback Patrick Surtain II with a four-year, $96 million deal in September, including $77.5 million in guarantees. In November, linebacker Jonathon Cooper also signed a four-year, $60 million extension.

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NFL (American Football)

Bo Nix Sets The Rookie TD Record For Broncos With 29-19 Victory

Bo Nix Sets The Rookie TD Record For Broncos (Photo: NFL)

Bo Nix threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the team’s rookie record as the Denver Broncos secured a 29-19 victory over the struggling Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

This win marked the Broncos’ first in Las Vegas and their first road victory in the series since defeating the then-Oakland Raiders on October 11, 2015.

The Broncos (7-5) took another stride toward a surprising playoff bid with their second consecutive victory.

Meanwhile, the Raiders (2-9) extended their losing streak to seven games, the longest since the 2017-18 seasons.

Nix completed 25 of 42 passes, with his 18-yard touchdown throw to Courtland Sutton in the third quarter setting a new rookie record for the franchise.

The previous mark of 14 was established by Marlin Briscoe in 1968. Later in the fourth quarter, Nix connected with Sutton again on a 2-yard touchdown pass, securing a two-possession lead with 5:30 remaining.

Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a stellar game, catching eight passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

He also extended his streak of 70-yard games to five, the longest by a Broncos player since Demaryius Thomas’ eight-game streak in 2014.

On the Raiders’ side, quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 25 of 42 passes for 230 yards, including a touchdown and an interception, before being replaced by Desmond Ridder late in the game after landing hard on his left shoulder.

Bo Nix Sets The Rookie TD Record For Broncos (Photo: John Locher)

The highlight of Las Vegas’ passing attack came on a fake punt when punter AJ Cole hit linebacker Divine Deablo with a 34-yard pass, setting up a second-quarter field goal.

Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson and Denver’s Will Lutz were standout performers, combining for a perfect nine field goals, including three successful attempts from over 50 yards.

Carlson’s contributions helped keep the Raiders competitive despite their mounting injuries.

Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers also had a strong outing, catching 10 passes for 121 yards.

This marked his best performance since 2020 when he tallied 12 receptions for 169 yards with the New England Patriots against the New York Jets.

Defensively, Raiders end Maxx Crosby recorded his 100th tackle for loss in the second quarter, joining elite company.

He became only the fourth player since 1999 to achieve this milestone within his first six seasons, alongside J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, and DeMarcus Ware.

The depleted Raiders were significantly undermanned, playing without their top two running backs, two starting cornerbacks, two defensive linemen, and a safety.

Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was also absent, with Derius Swinton II stepping in to handle coaching duties.