ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — For the first time in his 17 seasons as a coach, Sean Payton has a rookie quarterback to nurture.

Payton’s Denver Broncos took Bo Nix in the first round of the NFL draft. The coach then helped out both himself and Nix by moving up to draft his new QB’s top target at Oregon, wide receiver Troy Franklin, in the fourth round Saturday.

“Obviously watching a lot of Bo Nix, we kept seeing Troy show up on the film,” Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey said. “And scouts, coaches, we’ve all had an eye on Troy.”

What 2024 will show is whether the pugnacious Payton can show patience with the growing pains that will greet the former Oregon signal-caller just as they do every other passer making the leap to the pros.

“The challenge is exciting, but it’s still you want good quarterback play,” Payton said. “The two biggest allies to that I believe strongly are good defensive play and a running game. ... When you’re playing good defense and you have a running game, your job description is a little bit more palatable.”