Denver Broncos fans know all too well that it takes a franchise quarterback to win at the highest level in the NFL.
After helping the team reach two Super Bowls in four years, Peyton Manning retired following the 2015 season. Since then, the Broncos have had 13 different starting quarterbacks.
Denver’s recent quarterbacks have had varying levels of success, with Trevor Siemian the only full-time starter to post a winning record (13-11). The Broncos struck out in the draft with Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and Drew Lock, in free agency with Case Keenum, and via trade with Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson.
Now fans in Denver will hope that first-round pick Bo Nix will finally provide a long-term solution at quarterback.
Andrew Harbaugh of Vikings Wire recently compiled Pro Football Focus grades for all 32 (projected) starting quarterbacks, including college grades for rookie QBs. See where Nix stacks up below.
Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Jayden Daniels
PFF College grade: 94.7
Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Bo Nix
PFF College grade: 93
Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Allen
PFF grade: 92.1
Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Drake Maye
PFF College grade: 91.5
Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
J.J. McCarthy
PFF College grade: 90.6
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Mahomes
PFF grade: 90.5
Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Lamar Jackson
PFF grade: 90.4
Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Caleb Williams
PFF College grade: 90.3
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dak Prescott
PFF grade: 90
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Matthew Stafford
PFF grade: 88.2
Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Brock Purdy
PFF grade: 87.4
Syndication: Palm Beach Post
Tua Tagovailoa
PFF grade: 86.9
Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jalen Hurts
PFF grade: 86.7
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Kirk Cousins
PFF grade: 86.1
Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jared Goff
PFF grade: 85.7
Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Herbert
PFF grade: 85.5
Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Love
PFF grade: 83.6
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Stroud
PFF grade: 83.1
Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Geno Smith
PFF grade: 82.9
Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Trevor Lawrence
PFF grade: 79.7
Syndication: The Enquirer
Joe Burrow
PFF grade: 77.9
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Rodgers
PFF grade from 2023: 77.5
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Wilson
PFF grade: 77.5
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Derek Carr
PFF grade: 77.2
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Baker Mayfield
PFF grade: 77.2
Syndication: Arizona Republic
Kyler Murray
PFF Grade: 70.8
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Deshaun Watson
PFF grade: 67.3
Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Aidan O’Connell
PFF grade: 65.9
Syndication: The Tennessean
Will Levis
PFF grade: 63.7
Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Bryce Young
PFF grade: 56
Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Richardson
PFF grade: 52.2