Former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler, can be a harsh critic at times.

Smith isn’t afraid to be critical of players in the NFL if he feels it’s fair. He’s not an analyst who is there to gas up current players — he does his best to provide analysis based on what he actually sees on film.

So when he recently did a deep dive on the Broncos offense, I was a little nervous for what he might say about Denver quarterback Bo Nix.

Smith, though, quickly made it clear that he thinks Nix is “legit.”

“No matter how you skin this cat, damn Bo Nix just gets it done,” said Smith. “I’ve talked to a few sources. … I’ve talked to a few people up there, but I’ve also talked to my main guy James (Palmer), and Bo is just firing on all cylinders. You could see the step forward that he’s taken, and so I just have to lean back and just eat some humble pie. Bo Nix is legit. He is just flat out legit.

“If Davis Webb can insert a little bit of youth in thinking, and I have to say that because I do know some former offensive coaches that were on that team that now are on other teams that had said when Sean (Payton) was there in the beginning, he was a little old school. He wasn’t necessarily always wanting to do the RPO game. That wasn’t his bread and butter. He’s really changed. I know Sean extremely well. Sean can be a little stuck in his ways at times, but I love the way he’s implementing a lot of different things. And because of that, I just have to give Bo his kudos. I mean, my man is standing on business.”

Smith also added that he thinks Nix is the best in the NFL at throwing the ball on the run.

2026 could be a huge season for Nix. He’s going to be even more comfortable in the NFL, and he has a shiny new weapon in wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

This could be the year that Nix becomes a household name.