Bo Nix, you’re up next.
The Broncos have struggled with finding a quarterback for the past eight years, and they’ve now added Bo Nix, a precise passer who almost won the Heisman trophy after moving from Auburn to Oregon.
Being like a duck is not a bad thing.
Nix has valuable experience at 24 years old, making him different from the typical rookie. He is mature and married. Most college students take longer to leave with a PhD than he did to become a QB, and this experience is a positive thing.
Nix is intelligent and committed, and his 61 college starts, the most in FBS history, will accelerate his transition to the NFL. Amid predictions that the Broncos would pick J.J. McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr., they ultimately couldn't pass up on a quarterback in the first round. The Broncos couldn't skip drafting a quarterback in the first round. In the end, Nix was the chosen one.
Finally, Nix was the solution.
The Broncos went for it. A team that has struggled with the quarterback position took a big chance. No regrets, no regrets.
Can you believe it? This selection represents hope and trust.
For a team that has been trying everything for the past eight years, including late first round picks, aging players, and high-priced saviors, the Broncos took a major step by using a top-12 pick on a quarterback, the highest since Jay Cutler in 2006. It's a risky move considering the 40% failure rate of first-round picks over the past two decades. But not making a selection would have been even scarier. NFL teams need a good quarterback to win. Nix was heavily linked to the Broncos in mock drafts, and it made so much sense that it seemed too good to be true. However, it turned out to be the right decision.
Depending on who you ask, Nix has been compared to Rich Gannon, a lighter version of Drew Brees, or Derek Carr. Becoming any of these three would be an improvement.
Nix claims he's ready to play early, but he knows that everyone has to compete for their spot.
Sean Payton had to really like Nix to pick him. He thought about trading back, but changed his mind when Penix was picked earlier than expected, increasing the risk of not sticking with Nix.
According to multiple sources, the Broncos ranked Nix third on their list, only behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. This shows their faith and belief in him, based on their evaluations and his impressive private workout in Eugene.
It's a crucial selection for Sean Payton, as it could impact his chances of making it to the Hall of Fame. His motivation to succeed with Nix is high.
This is where trust comes into play. Broncos fans should be happy about this choice, even if Sean Payton is not the easiest person to support.
Payton turned down Russell Wilson and took a big financial hit because he believed a college quarterback was a better choice. Now, we know who it is.
Nix is the one. Is he better than Jarrett Stidham? Yes. Is he an improvement over Zach Wilson? He better be, or else what's the point?
Payton was hired to control RussellMania and make the former Super Bowl champion part of the solution. He saw him as the problem, especially in close-scoring situations and with the many sacks. By releasing Russ, Payton started the countdown on his time in Denver. Patience has a limit. He has a five-year deal, but honestly, he needs to make the Broncos a contender in Year 4.
There was no path to success without a point guard, and in Payton’s opinion, without Nix. If Payton is correct, Nix will be the Broncos’ best quarterback since Peyton Manning. The standard is low (ants have been clearing it easily since 2016).
Payton believes in his ability to judge quarterbacks, his skill in determining if a quarterback is a fast learner, able to process at the line of scrimmage. In Nix, he saw a quarterback who understands his protection, avoids sacks and has the ability to use the entire route tree, especially, I assume, those 14-yard dig routes made common by Brees in New Orleans.
If Nix’s resume only included Oregon — 74 touchdowns and 10 interceptions — he would have been a top-10 target. Simply put. But it is hard to overlook his three years at Auburn, where he was benched multiple times, his highlight being his first game, leading a remarkable comeback win over Oregon.
Honestly, Nix was not the 12th-best player in this draft. But no one will care if he is better than the previous 13 Broncos’ quarterbacks.
Bo Nix, you’ve got next.
Honestly, Nix was not the 12th-best player in this draft. But no one will care if he is better than the previous 13 Broncos’ quarterbacks.
