Top Star has transformed the energy around the Denver Broncos, and new teammate and All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga immediately recognized why.
After joining Denver in free agency from the 49ers, Hufanga credited a conversation with Super Bowl-winning wideout Bennie Fowler—and second-year quarterback Bo Nix—as key reasons behind his decision. According to Hufanga, the Broncos have something “special,” and Nix is at the center of it.
“He’s the reason,” Hufanga said during a May 1 appearance on the “DNVR Broncos” podcast. “Oh, yeah. Most definitely. He reached out right away. I saw him the day I signed and got to talk with him. He’s just a gamer.”
Hufanga praised Nix for exceeding expectations during his rookie season. “Everyone had their doubts, but he came out and balled. That’s what I love about him.”
He also mentioned how he and former 49ers teammate Dre Greenlaw noticed the difference Nix makes. “When you have a quarterback who can really play, as a defense, it changes everything. You’re not just dealing with constant three-and-outs. A lot of NFL teams don’t have that. But we saw potential here. So why not come be part of the change? He’s the reason.”
“The atmosphere has shifted a lot over the past few years,” Talanoa Hufanga said. “Just watching what this team has gone through—and now seeing a guy like Bo come in, the way he works, the way he handles himself. Just in OTAs so far, the dude hustles.”
Hufanga added, “I love it. I’m excited to work with him and, hopefully, go the distance.”
Bo Nix Proving Worth Off the Field
Talanoa Hufanga is now the second free agent to publicly credit Bo Nix for helping recruit them to the Denver Broncos this offseason. The rookie quarterback has taken an active role in building the roster, previously staying in close contact with tight end Evan Engram during his free agency process as well.
“Yeah, we were in contact with him throughout the whole deal,” Nix told Altitude Sports’ Vic Lombardi on March 14. “We’re excited for all of them.”
Engram also noted that Nix left a strong impression during his visit to Denver, further highlighting the young quarterback’s leadership and influence in shaping the team’s future.
“There’s something special there,” Evan Engram said of Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. Speaking on a podcast with Bennie Fowler in April, the veteran tight end highlighted the quarterback’s reputation within the organization as a key factor in his free agency decision.
“The rapport he has in the building—the way the coaches talk about him—was something that really meant a lot to me,” Engram said. “Really excited to get to work with Bo. He has a bright future ahead of him.
“Whatever I can do to make his job easier, and to help him evolve as the great player that he can become, it’s a great opportunity for myself.”
Engram, Nix, and the rest of the Broncos will take the field for organized team activities (OTAs) from May 27 to May 29.
Broncos Taking Advantage of Bo Nix Benefit
Bo Nix’s immediate success has given the Denver Broncos a major boost—most importantly by stabilizing the quarterback position, the most critical role in football. But the impact goes even deeper.
Not only did Nix end the team’s playoff drought in his rookie season, he did so while delivering a historic performance. His emergence as a legitimate franchise quarterback has energized the locker room, influenced free-agent decisions, and created a sense of long-term stability.
Equally important, Nix is still on his rookie contract—giving the Broncos significant financial flexibility. That cost-controlled deal has allowed Denver to be aggressive in free agency, landing key veterans like Evan Engram and Talanoa Hufanga. It’s a rare combination: elite play at quarterback and the cap space to keep building a competitive roster around him.
Good quarterbacks usually come at a premium—but Bo Nix is giving the Broncos rare value at the game’s most expensive position.
According to Over The Cap, Nix will have just the 37th-highest salary among quarterbacks in 2025. That bargain is allowing Denver to build aggressively around him. His rookie-scale deal gave the Broncos the financial flexibility to land high-impact free agents like tight end Evan Engram, All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
With Nix performing at a high level while still on a cost-controlled contract, Denver is maximizing a key championship window—one where they can spend big at other positions without sacrificing long-term stability.