The Broncos appear to be heading toward a quarterback room built around a familiar Auburn pairing, with Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham lining up as the likely two-man setup on the 53-man roster. If that holds, Sam Ehlinger could be the odd man out and land on the practice squad.
Sean Payton has already signaled that this is not the kind of decision he’s losing sleep over. When asked this summer whether Denver would keep three quarterbacks on the roster, he gave just enough of an answer to stir the pot without really opening it. “If there were like eight roster questions, it’s one of the eight as you’re looking at building your roster," Payton said.
That tells you where QB3 sits on the priority list. Denver has other spots to sort through, and the secondary is one of them. In a numbers game like this, Ehlinger can get squeezed fast.
What makes the current setup interesting is the Auburn thread running through it. Nix and Stidham were the last two quarterbacks to lead Auburn to a winning record, and Nix’s final game in orange and blue came in 2021, when he was injured against Mississippi State. Between them, they give Denver a quarterback room with a built-in connection that goes back years.
Nix’s 2025 season was a big one: 3,931 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Had he stayed healthy and reached the AFC Championship Game, plenty of people believed Denver would have been the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl opponent in February.
Stidham’s case is different, but just as important in its own way. He stepped in on short notice and nearly pulled off a win against the New England Patriots, with Denver falling 10-7 at Sports Empower Field at Mile High.
He may have been in over his head against Mike Macdonald’s defense if the Broncos had made a deeper run, but his leadership in January clearly mattered. Not bringing him back would have gone over badly with teammates, and Payton avoided that mess.
The Broncos also flirted with a very different path this offseason. Aaron Rodgers rumors linked the 42-year-old to Denver, but nothing came of it, and he’s now back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, the idea behind that interest says plenty about how Payton was thinking.
The theory was simple: if Nix wasn’t fully healthy, Denver could have let him sit a year behind Rodgers while Payton pushed all in for a title. Stidham’s place in that version of the plan was far from certain.
That’s why the Broncos may not be in any rush to settle into comfort just because Nix and Stidham share an Auburn past. Payton was reportedly close enough to a dramatic pivot only a few months ago that this room can’t be treated as locked in forever.
And Nix’s injury history will always be part of the conversation. He has had two different seasons end with ankle injuries, and the viral pictures from this latest one left fans uneasy about what it might mean long term. Payton has likely had those same thoughts cross his mind.
For now, though, Denver is rolling with Nix and Stidham. The Broncos just need them to keep delivering once the games start mattering.
In Other News...
Auburn May Have An Intriguing Tight End Project Developing
Xavier Newsoms path to Auburn has been as unusual as it is intriguing. He started his college career at Howard as a reserve tight end after originally being recruited as an edge rusher, and when Howard head coach Larry Scott moved to Auburn, Newsom followed and kept working at the same position. For Auburn, that kind of background gives him a different kind of value, especially with his size and the fact that he already knows what it looks like to play from the defensive side of the ball.
The Tigers are still developing him, but there is enough there to keep coaches interested. Newsom is viewed as someone who can grow into a useful blocker and eventually offer something in the passing game, even if he is not presently a primary receiving target. For a program always looking for hidden pieces, a player who arrives with physical tools, defensive instincts and room to climb can be worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Still Has One Roster Decision Hanging Before The Opener
A Colorado judges ruling that extended eligibility for all Class of 2022 college athletes has added another layer of uncertainty to roster building across college football, and Auburn is dealing with the ripple effects as fall approaches. Coach Alex Golesh said the Tigers have had to manage additions carefully while sorting through what the ruling and the NCAAs new five-for-five eligibility structure could mean for a roster that is still taking shape.
One of the latest pieces is former Troy wide receiver Tray Taylor, who can practice with Auburn but is not yet cleared to play in games. Golesh framed the situation as part of a broader roster-management puzzle, with the Tigers trying to stay flexible until the eligibility picture settles and one final decision becomes clearer before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns 2026 Hype Just Got Real In One Key ESPN List
Auburns 2026 outlook got an early jolt of credibility when ESPN released its list of the top 100 college football players and included two Tigers near the top end of the rankings. Linebacker Xavier Atkins landed at No. 28 after a strong first season as a starter following his transfer from LSU, while quarterback Byrum Brown checked in at No. 88 for the impact he can bring as a dual-threat playmaker in an up-tempo offense.
For a program trying to establish itself under first-year coach Alex Golesh, getting that kind of national recognition this early matters. Atkins is already viewed as a centerpiece on defense, and Browns presence gives Auburn another proven piece to build around, even if the bigger question is how quickly the new staff can turn those individual strengths into a complete team identity. [Read more 🡒]