Broncos OTA observations: Sean Payton sees Bo Nix starting Year 2 in full control. “It’s entirely different”

A year ago this kind of play would have been the subject of substantial hullabaloo Never mind that this is May months from NFL games that matter genuinely being won or lost Bo Nix operating behind a veteran offensive line calmly surveyed the field and threw a dart to Courtland Sutton for seemingly yards Then Denver s No receiver made a contested catch along the sideline Then the pair linked up for a handful of other completions during Thursday s organized squad activity practice open to reporters This wouldn t have even been feasible last year considering Sutton stayed away from all of Denver s voluntary work to make it clear he required a new contract But it might not have happened for Nix in the first place given he was in his first days with the whole group after getting drafted He was still trying to figure out play calls and how to operate the huddle He was trying to win the starting job over Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson and he was shrugging off any notion that his status as a first-round pick ordained his eventual status atop the depth chart Now the two are in a totally different world Rhythm timing big plays That s all old hat So too are the Broncos in a different spot as they set out as a gang with real expectations for the first time in quite a while There are countless reasons for the optimism A loaded defense A third year of roster building under head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton Big jumps over the past year from several young players Related Articles John Franklin-Myers not present for Broncos OTAs but agent says no contract issues Broncos great Von Miller committed to playing in but Denver reunion really doesn t make sense Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto enters OTAs with a new moniker Bloodhound Broncos podcast Emerging down the largest part stimulating OTA storylines for Sean Payton s club Broncos Mailbag What are the strengths and weaknesses of Sean Payton s roster But nothing is more central to what will be a hype-filled offseason than the promise Nix manifested as a rookie and the room for advance he has going into Year The gap between a year ago and now is palpable even in shorts and helmets It s a lot different Payton noted We don t use that term pick up where you left off but just the processing understanding of what we re doing in and out of the huddle These three days as you re watching each decision they re where you want the ball to go It s entirely different Nix thought so too It s a lot better and a lot more enjoyable not thinking right now as opposed to what I was doing last year the quarterback noted It s fun It s fun to be in the know It s fun to have a little bit more of an understanding of what s going on so I can be a little bit more beneficial to others and kind of help them out along the way I feel good We re in a good spot One example Nix stated when he gets to the line of scrimmage now in practice he s not thinking about what his guys are about to do When you go up to the line of scrimmage you want to be only thinking about the defense Only processing and reacting to the defense Not maybe the footwork or the motion or the timing that I m doing That process I feel like is eliminated and now I can focus a lot more on the defense Other observations from Thursday Inside linebacker Alex Singleton knee was out on the field months after ACL surgery but was limited Still it s good progress for the -year-old With he and Dre Greenlaw quad still working back toward full robustness there are a ton of reps to go around for Justin Strnad Drew Sanders and a quartet of young undrafted players Payton stated Sanders had impressed now that he s settled back into playing in the middle of the field after shuffling back and forth around an Achilles injury over his first two pro seasons The vision s clear Payton commented of Sanders role Inside linebacker We think he s a pressure athlete So obviously there s methods where you can pressure that guy from a stack position or to an outside position He s doing well handling it Payton predicted competition at receiver not just for roster spots but among young players like Marvin Mims Jr Troy Franklin Devaughn Vele and Pat Bryant to determine how they fit in the pecking order Mims of program had of his receiving yards and all six touchdowns in Denver s final seven games last year We saw him take a big step in the middle of the year Payton revealed I think you re going to see those kind of ascensions with players like Troy There s a number of young players competing for not so much spots but competing for touches Mims is one of them Not a inadequate months into his Broncos tenure tight end Evan Engram is already stirring up buzz on practice fields The former Jaguars Pro Bowler displayed crisp footwork on a variety of routes Thursday and drew yelps from the sideline after turning a wide-open cut into a clean toss from Nix The two have already built a solid foundation in an extremely crucial rapport for the Broncos hopes Nix stated Engram has been in Denver ever since officially signing his deal in March and that the two talk a lot He s perpetually asking me about certain things Nix stated The Broncos secondary is as cluttered as any position group on the roster after the first-round selection of cornerback Jahdae Barron But don t forget about cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine who impressed in a start against Indianapolis last year and continued to turn heads at OTAs Thursday emerging on a pass for an impressive deflection during one band period At owner s meetings general manager George Paton reported Abrams-Draine was the rookie Denver felt was furthest behind after OTAs last year He s perfectly flipped that script entering Year He has unique cover skills really good instincts and he doesn t get fazed Paton mentioned in March We re really encouraged with him Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis