The Denver Broncos head into Week 13 with a solid 7-5 record, showing promise despite having rookie quarterback Bo Nix at the helm. The team is setting its sights on becoming serious contenders again.
Nix has already made a mark, tossing two touchdowns against the Raiders to bring his season total to 16—breaking Denver’s rookie record for touchdown passes, with five games still to play.
Head coach Sean Payton recently highlighted the impact Nix has had on the team, praising the confidence he inspires in his teammates.
“It’s powerful,” Payton said. “I’ve seen it before — like with [Drew] Brees — when your quarterback gives you that belief. You feel like you’re in every game, even when you’re behind. That mindset can change everything. The opposite can be tough, but when the guy touching the ball on every play sets the tone, it shapes how the entire team thinks — both mentally and on the field.”
With Nix leading the charge, the Broncos are proving they have what it takes to keep competing.
Bo Nix since Week 10
🔸 83.5 passing grade (4th)
🔸 8 Passing TDs (T-1st)
🔸 0 INTs
🔸 85.3% adjusted completion percentage (2nd)
🔸 118.6 passer rating (2nd) pic.twitter.com/rbheT9J2Xn— PFF (@PFF) November 25, 2024
What is Bo Nix’s Height?
The former Oregon quarterback Box Nix is 6’2”.
What is Bo Nix’s Wingspan?
Bo Nix, who played for the Oregon Ducks college football team, has a wingspan of 74.5”.
The Positives
What did the Broncos get out of the 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? Here are some of the positives to focus on when it comes to Bo Nix and his game.
Good Mobility
In today’s NFL, quarterbacks cannot be the hulking sentries that they once were. Mobility is a must in order to escape the fast and freakishly athletic pass rushers that inhabit most NFL defensive lines. Luckily for Bo Nix, he comes equipped with the right tools.
Though he isn’t an electric running in the mold of Lamar Jackson, Nix has great burst, change of direction, and fluidity, allowing him to find creases quickly. Though he won’t challenge for the league lead in rushing yards by a QB, BoNix should be able to get out of more than a few jams using his feet.
Accuracy
Though we’ll get to the criticism related to his accuracy below, Bo Nix has shown himself to be consistent in the passing game. He gets the ball out quickly more often than not and shows a penchant to layer his throws accurately.
Part of the package is that Bo Nix does well with his pre-snap reads. Having the proper information before the ball is snapped helps him get to his target quicker, negating potential pass rushers. As a rookie, he will need this to navigate growing pains.
Strong Arm
While he might not have the strongest arm, Bo Nix can make all the throws. He gets it downfield well enough, but he really shines when it comes to throwing on the run. His velocity gets a little uneven when throwing outside the numbers, but he can really drive it when throwing over the middle of the field.
Tightening up the outside and deep throws will need to be his next step. For the interim, Bo Nix will need to make the most of his ability to hit underneath and intermediate routes between the numbers to drive the offense forward.
Denver Broncos first-round selection in the NFL football draft quarterback Bo Nix looks over a jersey after a news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, at the team’s headquarters in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Negatives
Even for the top prospects in the draft, there are negatives to their game. For Bo Nix, there are a few major concerns that had him pegged as a late first-round talent rather than landing in the top 15 where he did.
Processing
Though he shows a good capability for pre-snap reads, Oregon didn’t ask him to do all that much when it came to reading down the field. Their offense was predicated on run-pass-options (RPOs), screens, and simple vertical concepts to give him easier decisions.
Head coach Sean Payton will need to work to his strengths initially while trying to expand Bo Nix’s repertoire. Nix also seems to struggle when the initial read has been taken away, so he will need to develop his ability to go through his progressions and find secondary targets.
Forces Plays
Nix had the luxury of great protection and a scheme at Oregon that allowed him to get the ball out quickly. That likely won’t be the case in the NFL, simply because of the dramatic shift in talent at this level compared to college.
Like many other quarterbacks, Nix made risky decisions when under pressure. He showed a tendency to make impulsive throws or risky plays, which leads to an increase in the chance for turnovers. His pocket presence could use work as well, helping to cut down on those risky decisions.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) takes part in a drill during an NFL rookie minicamp football practice Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Bo Nix Stats 2023: Numbers Of The Oregon Quarterback Bo Nix
Nix went to high school in Pinson Valley. After the end of his high school period in Pinson Valley, Bo moved to the Auburn Tigers, where he played as Auburn quarterback until 2022. In 2022 he moved to the Oregon Ducks where he played his fifth year as a college starter.
Bo Nix had unquestionably his best season in 2023. As a fifth-year senior for the Oregon Ducks, Nix hit career-highs in completions (364), attempts (470), completion percentage (77.4%), yards (4,508), and touchdowns (45).
Nix earned a bit of Heisman Trophy buzz throughout the course of the year, especially having 45 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. Nix was considered one of the best players at his position in the entire nation for 2023.
Working on a 2024 Draft QB’s video and thought I’d share this graph with any other data nerds
This is a graph showing adj completion vs ADOT and Bo Nix (6.8) is a major outlier in terms of his high accuracy and very low target distance
Stats via PFF#NFLDraft #NFLDraft2024 pic.twitter.com/jcc0mePRUO
— Jackson Durham NFL (@Research_Passer) April 2, 2024
Can Bo Nix Solve the Broncos’ QB Problem?
The simple answer is that it is far too soon to know whether the Denver Broncos have gotten it right. Payton will have to work to accentuate Nix’s positives while gently working on the areas that need improvement.
Nonetheless, Nix, the results came quickly and he consolidated as one of the best rookies of the season. He took the place to Zach Wilson, who arrived from the Jets and outperformed him and already rivals the passing yards stat of Russell Wilson in the 2023 season.
Nix seems to be one of the best drafting picks in Broncos history and he might be the one that takes the team a step further back into the playoffs, something they miss since they last won the Super Bowl (2016).
