Ex-Broncos OL scared for Denver if Zach Wilson or ex-Auburn football QB starts over Bo Nix

Mark Schlereth will be worried for the Denver Broncos' long-term health if former Auburn football QB Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson end up starting over No. 12 2024 NFL draft pick Bo Nix -- not just for this season, but for the long-term health of the franchise.

"If Bo Nix isn’t your starter, then did you miss on Bo Nix? Everything they said coming out of the draft was… Bo Nix started 61 games, has a supercomputer as a processor, is incredibly accurate, was the best college Red Zone QB in the nation, had the best completion percentage, [and] never fumbled while at Oregon," Schlereth said (h/t "Stikin Truth" podcast).

Nix not working out in year one isn't the end of the world, but it would be an upset at best and a severe disappointment at worst if he was beaten out for the starting job by Wilson, who's always struggled in his career with the New York Jets or Stidham, who's been a career journeyman so far in the NFL.

Former Auburn football QB Jarrett Stidham seen by most as the best of any Broncos QB thus far

9News' Mike Klis reported that Stidham is outcompeting Nix and Wilson thus far during Denver's offseason; though he added that Nix has shown a ton of promise during his first few months as a Bronco.

"Say this for Stidham: He hasn’t moped about becoming crowded with hotshot newcomers," Klis prefaced before saying, "He bowed his neck and competed. To almost all media observers, Stidham was the best of the three quarterbacks, with Nix also mostly promising, during the offseason practice sessions."

Nix is certainly not out of the mix yet. It takes time to pick up an NFL playbook from a legendary mastermind like Sean Payton. By training camp, he may be able to slide into the QB1 role ahead of Stidham.

If he doesn't, though, the existential questions in Denver are coming.