Denver... ok, so, here's the thing. They're getting blasted, but what was the option for them? As options go, they did pretty well.
They were at #12, but with the trades of prior years they didn't have a great deal to throw in to move up to get one of the top-tier spots for someone like Maye. They had to essentially stay put and hope someone like Nix or Penix fell to them... and then watched the Falcons punch themselves in the groin with the bizarre Penix pick.
So, there's only one remaining major QB on the board that one could turn into a starter in the next year or two, and that's Nix. Is he the best choice in the draft? Well... no. I'm not sold on Caleb Williams being the future for the Bears- his attitude seems to overshadow the talent, I'm really worried he's our next Ryan Leaf/Johnny Manziel guy, gobs of talent and a head case enough to work himself out of the job anyway. But beyond that, I think Maye was the best choice out there overall. Denver had no path to get him, they were going to end up with Penix or Nix, and they got the latter. Is that bad?
Nix is an old rookie- that's negative in that he's that much further than others into his prime already before he takes a snap. He's also been a college QB for five years between Auburn and Oregon, and he's performed very well- he learns the playbook better than many, and seems to be pretty hard to rattle in the pocket. That all fits what Payton likes to run- he's not Drew Brees, but he's closer to that mold in those ways than other rookies might have been (or Zach Wilson, obviously). Bringing in Nix's favorite reciever at Oregon will hopefully help him adjust, giving him his familiar security-blanket on one side of the field and the incomparable Courtland Sutton on the far side. That's solid.
This isn't going to be a good team this year. Period. I'm still leaning towards 5-12 being a good season for them. But the next few years, with Nix at the helm? I have hope, something I haven't had at QB since Manning left. So while I'm under no impression the Broncos are getting a top-tier QB here, they got as good as they could have- and kept Nix from going to Vegas, just as importantly. I'm pretty happy overall.