The Denver Broncos are 4-2 early in the 2026 NFL season, within striking distance of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, and have the talent to compete come playoff time across almost the entire roster. It would take something truly outrageous to kick the tires on a new face at quarterback, but what we've seen from Bo Nix could warrant it.
It's rare for a team to defeat the defending Super Bowl champions in overtime, and the hot-button topic after the game is the starting quarterback who won it, but that's exactly the case with Nix and the Broncos after Thursday night. To be clear, concerns about Nix go far beyond one game, but the Broncos' 17-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks showcased virtually all the issues in just over four quarters.
As Doug Clawson of CBS Sports pointed out, Nix's struggles this season have been so glaring that he's ranked No. 701 out of 701 in average pass length with 4.9 air yards per attempt. Clawson summed it up by pointing out that Nix's average pass was thrown behind the line of scrimmage in the second half of Thursday's game.
There are 701 qualified QB seasons through 6 games in the past 20 years
— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) October 16, 2026
2026 Bo Nix ranks 701st out of 701 in average pass length (4.9 air yards per attempt)
His avg pass was thrown behind the line of scrimmage in the 2nd half on Thursday
Maybe it's a health issue for Nix, or he's uncomfortable/lacking confidence after suffering a right ankle fracture in the 2025-26 AFC Divisional Round matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Those two points are fair given Nix's inability to extend plays consistently with his legs, but he's also showing an unwillingness to take shots downfield, or even very far behind the line of scrimmage.
But for a quarterback who rushed for 430 and 356 yards with nine combined touchdowns over his first two seasons, 37 yards on 22 rushing attempts in 2026 is abysmal, and it's flat-out hurting his team. Nix showed glimpses of upside and potential throughout his two NFL seasons, but will that ever return?
It's anyone's guess, and if those doubts linger and become a serious concern, the Broncos could be wise to consider adding a veteran quarterback, or even a player who's flashed upside, before we get much deeper into the 2026 regular season. In Nix's defense, he's definitely not the only quarterback whose play this season has sparked hypothetical trade talk. Regardless, let's check out five potential trade candidates the Broncos should kick the tires on.
5 potential Broncos QB trade targets if Bo Nix struggles continue
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Why not? Anthony Richardson's tenure with the Indianapolis Colts is all but wrapped up, but a trade suitor has to emerge. I'm not saying Richardson should be thrust into a starting role over Nix immediately, but Sean Payton has done a good job creating running opportunities for his quarterback, and Richardson would take them with a big smile on his face.
Richardson can be sporadic; his deep ball needs work, but Payton can tailor the offense to his skill set in a way many coaches couldn't/wouldn't—if he believes in the upside. That's the million-dollar question, but given Richardson's raw, unique talent, finding a coach who can mold it would be intriguing, and Richardson isn't a guy who's timid about throwing a deep ball.
Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
I know, I know, more Shedeur Sanders hypothetical trade talk. But I'd need a real argument to convince me that Sanders couldn't fit in Payton's offense and be more productive than Nix has currently been. His rookie season was up-and-down, and that's understandable. But the talent is there, the work ethic is there, and any concerns (or whatever they were) about Sanders being a distraction have proven to be essentially nonsense and a non-factor.
The Cleveland Browns may have no interest in dealing Sanders, but if the door is even cracked open, the Broncos could and should kick the tires. If Broncos fans are worried about finding a quarterback of the future and were/are hopeful it can be Nix, both Richardson and Sanders are 24 years old and have upside and real potential for continued growth.
If the trade ask were the same on both players, I'd take Sanders, but I assume that wouldn't be the case.
Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders aren't going to trade Kirk Cousins right now. He's played well as the starter ahead of the Fernando Mendoza era, and the Raiders aren't showing any interest in a quarterback change right now (understandably). Cousins has thrown for 1,269 yards and completed 65.1% of his passes, with 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
However...
The Raiders have dropped two straight games, albeit against very good opponents in the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. With matchups against. the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks making up four of their next five games, the outlook could shift in the near future on the Raiders' plan at quarterback.
If that happens and Cousins moves to the No. 2 role, the Broncos should get on the phone to discuss bringing in a veteran quarterback who's proven more than capable of leading a group with a fair amount of talent. It's a hot take, but Cousins landing in Denver could completely shift the Broncos' offensive outlook this season.
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals should want to see what they have in quarterback at Carson Beck at some point this season, especially if things continue to trend in the direction they have in recent weeks. The Cardinals are 1-4, so at what point do they consider letting Beck get a shot? That decision gets a bit easier if there's a potential trade market for Brissett, and I'd love to see him land in Denver.
Brissett has shown he can work with talented playmakers throughout his career, including Michael Wilson and Trey McBride in Arizona. So the idea of pairing him with Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle? You can sign me up.
Brissett would immediately get far more out of the Broncos' top-two wideouts and quickly alter the team's offensive outlook. It may not be the long-term answer, but it could help Denver now and moving forward as they decide how to approach the quarterback position, assuming they want to test the waters and are still iffy about Nix.
Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
I'm not buying the idea that the San Francisco 49ers will trade Mac Jones after how well he's stepped in when his number is called. However, there's no denying that Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level, and Jones' trade value could be solid for the 49ers.
Regardless, Kyle Shanahan and company should be thrilled to have Jones as their No. 2 quarterback, knowing he can step in and win games if anything happens to Purdy. I don't envision a deal sending Jones to the Broncos playing out, but if Denver is serious about addressing the quarterback position, there should at least be a phone call or two between the two franchises.
Of all the names on this list, I'd view Jones as the least likely to play out, even if the Broncos decided to make a full-blown push to add another quarterback alongside Nix (they likely won't). All four names above make more sense for several reasons, but most importantly, it seems the 49ers want to keep Jones and are happy with their quarterback room.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 QBs the Broncos could trade for if Bo Nix can't figure it out
