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The Denver Broncos, after declaring rookie Bo Nix as their starter last week, decided to keep all three quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster at the deadline Tuesday.

Nix, the 12th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, remains teammates with veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, the latter acquired in an offseason trade.

“Yeah, we think highly of the quarterback room,” Broncos general manager George Paton said Tuesday after the roster was announced. “I really liked the process. I thought the competition brought out the best in really all of the quarterbacks. All these guys support each other, they compete and they work well together.”

While competition for roster spots across all positions is fierce, Denver determined it could have three quarterbacks on the roster before the practice squad is slotted.

“We looked at last year (and) I think almost half the league kept three quarterbacks,” Paton said. “With the rule changes, we think that number will increase. We’re glad to have all three.”

Nix, who starred at Auburn and then Oregon, will become the first rookie QB to start a season opener for Denver since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.

“In regard to Bo, he’s earned the opportunity to be the starter,” Paton said. “We’ve talked about it multiple times. Just the poise, the maturity and efficiency that he’s operated on the offense has been impressive. We know like every rookie, he is going to have ups and downs, but we’ll support him through that. We’re confident in Bo and just look forward to his continued growth and development.”

Last season, Denver finished 8-9. Russell Wilson, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was 7-8 as a starter and Stidham was 1-1.

Stidham, 28, completed 40 of 66 (60.6 percent) for 496 yards with two touchdowns and one interception last season. He has played in a total of 16 games (four starts) with the New England Patriots (2019-20), Las Vegas Raiders (2022) and Denver.

Wilson, 25, spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets, who selected him second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in 34 games (33 starts) and completed 57 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards, 23 TDs and 25 interceptions.

The Broncos acquired Wilson and a 2024 seventh-round pick on April 22 for a 2024 sixth-round pick from the Jets, who have Aaron Rodgers returning following a season-ending injury sustained in the 2023 opener.

“With Zach, we knew Zach was really talented,” Paton said. “We didn’t know the person. We love the day-to-day with Zach and we love the person. He’s smart and (has) all the intangibles. He obviously played well and he moved the team, and ‘Stiddy’ (Stidham) did as well. We like our group.”

–Field Level Media