Bo Nix on a Broncos extension: ‘I’ll play as long as they want to have me’

Broncos Country knows the impact Bo Nix has had in Denver and they want their starting quarterback to stay for a long time.

Asked Tuesday about the prospect of a long-term extension, the Broncos quarterback shared the love right back — even if he let the question do most of the work.

“I think that answer sort of answers itself,” Nix said when asked if he wants to be in Colorado for life. “I think everybody that’s in the league wants that long-term extension, wants to play for their home team. And for me, I love being here, I love where I’m at, I love this team, and I’ll play as long as they want to have me.”

The intent from both sides is important, though the math is where it becomes complex.

Nix is signed through 2027 on his rookie deal and becomes extension-eligible in January. From there, the Broncos hold the leverage: they can move quickly to lock him up, or they can exercise his fifth-year option for 2028 and buy themselves another year to decide. Either way, the clock on a big payday is about to start ticking.

Brock Purdy changed the market a bit in San Francisco at five years and $265 million, with $182 million guaranteed. Justin Herbert landed five years and $262 million in Los Angeles, with a whopping $218 million guaranteed. Jordan Love got four years and $220 million from Green Bay ($160 million guaranteed). Even Sam Darnold, secured three years and $101 million.

Stack Nix’s resume against that group and the Broncos’ decision starts to look less like an if and more like a when. He guided Denver to 14 wins and the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season and won a playoff game. Sean Payton has already floated the idea of Nix becoming one of the five best quarterbacks in football.

Quarterbacks like that get paid, in fact more than the ones aforementioned. The only questions are which tier he’ll land in when the payday comes, and how soon it’ll come.

For now, Nix isn’t sweating either one. He’s coming off an ankle injury he says is fully behind him, he’s back on the practice field and he’s made it clear where he wants his future to play out.