For Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to have success, he needs help from underwhelming group of weapons

Bo Nix is becoming famous.

Since the Broncos drafted him with the 12th pick in the first round, he has spoken to John Elway and Peyton Manning and hung out with Tom Brady and Jay-Z.

Bo knows pressure after playing and failing at Auburn, where he was originally hyped as the school’s Tim Tebow. Nix understands redemption after his magical two seasons at Oregon.

But there is no comparison to becoming the Broncos quarterback. He is the next big thing with the most eyes on him. The attention is relentless, the criticism scathing. There have already been whispers he won’t deliver, that he won’t start as a rookie.

I believe he will. And yet, the reasons for doubting his success are rational.

It’s not him. It’s them. For this Original Chex Nix to work, he needs help. Who is going to provide the mixed nuts, pretzels and bagel chips?

As the Broncos continue organized team activities this week, Nix looks like a quarterback straight out of central casting. He has the size, arm strength and ability to decipher information quickly, making him a good fit in Sean Payton’s offense.

Payton is preparing for a quarterback battle between Nix, Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. My experience covering quarterback competitions is that nobody wins. The player who ultimately starts has been shorted reps, and teammates struggle to know where to place their trust.

In my vision, Nix wins the job, becoming A1 on Day 1 at Seattle. Clean. Simple. Drama free.

But for Nix to experience success, he requires help. And that is where the concern begins. If your head is still throbbing over the heart-in-a-blender losses by the Nuggets and Avs, don’t glance at the Broncos’ offensive weapons.

They are not going to make anyone forget the salad days of Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno.

Payton is known as Will Hunting on the whiteboard. Brilliance is necessary to elevate the current pieces around the quarterback.

Let’s start at receiver. Are we sure the Broncos have a No. 1? Courtland Sutton profiles as such on this team, but for few others. And he is sitting out the voluntary workouts as he angles for a new contract. Will Sutton try to make a point by missing mandatory minicamp June 11-13? Even if he does, it makes little sense to trade him.

It would tack $4 million in dead money onto next year’s salary cap, and though the rollover money makes it a wash, the best path is to keep Sutton. He has $17.3 million reasons to report to training camp rather than hold out. But we should be clear on who he is. Sutton is a possession receiver. He scored a team-best 10 touchdowns last season after delivering two in his previous 26 games.

Assuming Sutton remains in the fold, he will be joined by Josh Reynolds. He is a No. 3, who could be cast as a No. 2. His career highs in catches (52), yards (618) and touchdowns (five) are modest, though he brings an edge in the run game. Marvin Mims Jr. features elite talent, but is unproven. With Jerry Jeudy gone, Payton has no more excuses for not playing the All-Pro returner. Mims had the Broncos’ only 100-yard receiving performance last season in Week 2 vs. Washington. And he promptly caught 13 passes for 135 yards over the final 11 games. Tim Patrick is trusted when healthy, but hasn’t played a snap in two years because of knee and Achilles injuries.

So, Sutton, Reynolds, Mims and Patrick? Forget the Three Amigos, that’s Four Men and a Maybe. A huge maybe. Perhaps rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele provide pop. Or Brandon Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey step up. But on paper, this is a bottom-third receiving corps.