Mark Kiszla, sports columnist

Answer: No

There’s a $50 million question hovering over this Broncos’ season.

Is Bo Nix a quarterback who can win the Super Bowl for Denver and punch coach Sean Payton’s ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

I hope the answers are: Yes!

But $50 million is a whole lotta dough, even if you’re as crazy rich as the Walmart family.

Heck, I’ve already boldly predicted Nix will overcome Payton’s tendency to overthink everything in the playoffs and be cheered as the grand marshal of a Super Bowl victory parade through the streets of Denver.

But showing Bo the money must wait, because it’s the biggest decision this franchise will make since signing Peyton Manning as a free agent way back in 2012.

Yes, the rules of collective bargaining will allow Nix to renegotiate his rookie contract after the upcoming NFL season ends.

If Nix makes me a prophet and leads Denver to a championship, the decision will be a no-brainer. He will richly deserve the designation of a franchise player, not to mention the beaucoup bucks that come with that prestigious title.

As rock-solid as Nix has been in two seasons with the Broncos, his arm has yet to demonstrate consistency in stretching the field and his wheels have been known to blow a tire.

Let’s see how Nix responds to the pressure of being the QB of a championship-or-bust team before declaring him worth every penny of a multiyear investment of more than $200 million. Assuming it’s a done deal wouldn’t be prudent.

***

Tyler King, college sports reporter:

Answer: Yes

The necessary answer?

Nix better be.

In today’s NFL, if you don’t have a $50 million quarterback, or one who will quickly become one after their rookie deal, you probably don’t have one that can lead you to a Super Bowl.

Granted, Sam Darnold will make about $33 million for the defending champion Seahawks this season, but the former top-five draft pick is more likely an exception and not the rule given Seattle’s defense and head coach were the star during last year’s run to winning it all in Santa Clara.

Heading into the 2026 season, there are 12 quarterbacks making north of $50 million. That includes three recent Super Bowl champs in Patrick Mahomes (the highest-paid player in the league at $64 million), Matthew Stafford and Jalen Hurts. There’s also a pair of players in Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy who have appeared in Super Bowls and other superstars who have the potential to get there in Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson.

If Nix is on his way to being a top-10 quarterback, which the Broncos hope is the case as early as this season, he’s going to be one of the highest-paid players in the league and likely making north of $60 million.

Assuming Nix continues an upward trajectory, he was already top 10 in the NFL in counting stats like passing yards and touchdowns in 2025, while also ranking 10th in the league in total EPA, which assesses a player’s overall value.

If the Broncos get back to where they expect to be as one of the teams playing on conference championship weekend, it will be because Nix showed he’s a top-10 quarterback. Aand Denver will have to pony up to keep him in town for the foreseeable future.