Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was the 12th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he will get the chance to be Sean Payton's QB of the future. So far this offseason, Denver's coaching staff has continually praised Nix's maturity level and growth. "There is a maturity level," offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. "I think when you draft a guy who is a little bit older, you hope that that comes with it, but he's certainly shown that. You can feel his 61 games played in college. With experience, a calmness comes along with it. So he certainly doesn't feel like a rookie." College football's all-time leader in career starts will be 24 years old when he takes his first regular-season snap, and he'll have to exceed expectations to elevate a weak supporting cast in the competitive AFC West. While the team expects Nix to perform well right away, he has limited fantasy upside due to a lack of weapons and the struggles rookies usually face.

During offseason practices, Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson has ceded most of the repetitions to Jarrett Stidham and rookie first-rounder Bo Nix. Wilson had a total of three practices with the first-team offense this spring compared to five for Stidham and four for Nix. There will officially be an open QB competition between Wilson, Stidham and Nix this summer at training camp, but it would be a pretty big surprise if Wilson came out the winner heading into the Week 1 regular season opener this fall. The 24-year-old former first-rounder fizzled out in impressive fashion with the New York Jets, and the Broncos predictably declined his fifth-year option after trading for him this offseason. Wilson has a strong arm but showed questionable decision-making in his time with the Jets. He's off the fantasy radar, even in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham has an obvious advantage in the quarterback competition with rookie first-rounder Bo Nix and former first-rounder Zach Wilson as he enters his second year in head coach Sean Payton's offense. "He's doing well," Payton said of Stidham. "Clearly, within the framework within what we're doing, he is much further along than in Year 1 in the transition. I'd say he's looked really sharp during this offseason program. [He is] real decisive. I think the leadership he is able to provide there, and there's good competition." Stidham may be ahead now, but Nix could quickly and easily close the gap if he looks good in training camp this summer. And it's not like Stidham has much experience in the NFL to begin with. Fantasy managers in single-year formats would be wise to avoid Denver's QB situation.

Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (core) was held out of mandatory minicamp practices this week as a precaution due to a core-muscle injury. "Just being smart with his reps," head coach Sean Payton said. "He had core-muscle symptoms, which is basically a sprain. He didn't need surgery, so that's the good news. Nothing significant though." It sounds like it's an injury that won't keep Trautman sidelined for the start of training camp at the end of July. The 27-year-old re-signed with Denver in the offseason after catching 22 passes for 204 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 17 games in his first year in Denver in 2023. Third-year tight end Greg Dulcich (foot) has had trouble staying on the field in his first two years in the NFL, but if he's healthy, he'll be the better bet for fantasy production in 2024 than Trautman.

Even though Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton showed up for mandatory minicamp this week after being absent at voluntary organized team activities, he hinted that he could hold out of training camp next month as he seeks a long-term contract extension. He's entering the third year of a four-year, $60.8 million extension that he signed back in 2021. Sutton has a $13 million salary in 2024 with only $2 million guaranteed. The 28-year-old wants a bigger contract after scoring a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023. "You know we'll see, we'll see what happens," Sutton said when asked if he'll show up for training camp if his contract negotiations remain at a stalemate. Sutton will be the unquestioned WR1 in Denver now that Jerry Jeudy is gone, but the QB situation isn't ideal, and he will be facing major regression in the TD department in 2024.