Tag: bo nix

Broncos were Bo Nix’s preferred landing spot in the NFL draft

“I truly can tell you this: If I could pick where I wanted to go, I was going to pick Denver,” Bo Nix said of being drafted by the Broncos.

The Denver Broncos used their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix last week.

The quarterback now joins coach Sean Payton, a quarterback guru, and a team that was his preferred landing spot going into the draft.

“Yesterday afternoon and yesterday evening, it started to become real to me,” Nix said during his introductory press conference last Friday. “I had everybody at the house. I had a great group show up, a lot of friends and family. It was an exciting moment for me and the entire family. Then as the draft started, it got intense. We knew how the first part of the draft was going to go, and then as it went you just never know how things were going to shape up. Right there at pick 12 I got a phone call, and I was just extremely excited and honored for it to be the Denver Broncos.

“I truly can tell you this: If I could pick where I wanted to go, I was going to pick Denver because of the relationships that we had built throughout the process. I just felt like it was a great fit for me, and I was just excited to get that phone call. Then after that, that’s when everything really started happening fast. It takes a long time for the draft to get here, but once it does, it happens quickly. Now I’m in Denver, and I’m speaking with you guys. So I’m excited. Already love the city, it’s a pretty day outside and I’m just excited to be here.”

Nix, 24, is a quick processor with efficient passing numbers, two traits that have drawn comparisons to Drew Brees. Payton, of course, won a Super Bowl with Brees, and the coach’s past success with that style of QB likely played a role in Nix wanting to land in Denver.

Nix was the Broncos’ top choice and they were his preferred choice. It’s a perfect match on paper. Now we wait to see how it looks on the field.

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Bo Nix has heard from Peyton Manning, hopes to connect with Drew Brees

Bo Nix has already heard from Peyton Manning. He hopes to also connect with Drew Brees as he begins his career with Sean Payton’s Broncos.

The Denver Broncos were a perfect landing spot for Oregon quarterback Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL draft.

In Denver, Nix will be coached by Sean Payton, a quarterback guru, and he’ll have Peyton Manning available at a moment’s notice.

“I got a text from Peyton Manning last night from our past at the Manning Passing Academy,” Nix said during his introductory press conference last Friday. “He’s always been so willing to reach out to me. He’s very good at being available to those young guys. He’s like that at the camp, he’s obviously like that with the Broncos players. I’m excited to seriously be around him and spend some time with him.”

Manning has been a great resource to the Broncos — and quarterbacks across the league — since retiring in 2016. He will continue to help in any way he can as Nix transitions to playing in the NFL.

Another retired quarterback, Drew Brees, had not reached out to Nix before the QB’s press conference last week, but the rookie hopes to also connect with Payton’s former QB.

“[W]ith Coach Payton and his background with Drew Brees, I’d love to get connected to him just because he’s been through it, he knows what it’s like and maybe I can take something from all those guys to where I can be the best version of myself,” Nix said.

Nix has a QB guru for a coach, a willing mentor in Manning and a play-style role model in Brees. He’s been set up for success in Denver. Now fans hope to see Nix take advantage of his opportunity.

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Sean Payton comments on Broncos trading for QB Zach Wilson

“We saw talent with a player that just three years ago was the No. 2 pick … We really like his traits,” Sean Payton said of Zach Wilson.

Just three days before the 2024 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos agreed to trade a sixth-round draft pick to the New York Jets in exchange for quarterback Zach Wilson and a seventh-round pick.

Shortly thereafter, the Broncos used their first-round pick in the draft to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix on Thursday night. Denver coach Sean Payton was asked about the timing of the trade and status of the QB room on Thursday night.

“These guys are all going to compete,” Payton said of the QB depth chart. “We were really happy to bring Zach on board. There was no specific timing, that just took a little bit of time. In other words, George [Paton] and Joe [Douglas] with the Jets have been working on that. So it wasn’t a smoke screen. I know when we signed him it was closer to the draft. It very well could have been three weeks ago.

“We know we wanted to add into the room, and I think I said that much even at the owner’s meetings. We really liked that opportunity. There were a number of veteran backups that signed contracts, and yet we saw talent with a player that just three years ago was the No. 2 pick in the draft. We really like his traits. Of course, we [also] have Jarrett Stidham here and Ben [DiNucci]. So Bill [Parcells] taught me a long time ago [to] just let them play. We have to maximize the reps that we have, and let them develop, and that stuff will sort itself out.”

It seems that the Broncos are now set to go into the summer with a huge quarterback competition. Wilson will be competing with Stidham and Nix (it’s hard to imagine many reps being leftover for DiNucci). May the best QB win.

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New Broncos QB Bo Nix flattered by the Drew Brees comparisons

Bo Nix is flattered by the Drew Brees comparisons, but he knows he needs to back it up on the field. “I’m excited to just play football.”

Leading up to the 2024 NFL draft, many pundits linked Oregon quarterback Bo Nix to the Denver Broncos for a simple reason: he plays like Drew Brees.

Brees, of course, broke records and won a Super Bowl playing for the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton, who now coaches in Denver. After the Broncos used their first-round pick to select Nix, the quarterback was asked about the Brees comparisons during his introductory press conference.

“I grew up watching Drew Brees, I grew up watching Coach Payton coach,” Nix said on Friday. “I watched their Super Bowl. … Whenever you’re compared to a guy like Drew Brees, it’s an honor just because of the success he had and the career that he had. So all it is just talk. I have to go out there and continue to do things just for the respect of that comparison. I think that’s what excites me the most. I’m excited to just play football, I’m excited to go out there and compete.

“I saw the sign out there on the practice field that says, ‘Compete Street.’ I think that’s the best thing that you can have going out to the practice field because that’s all you’re doing. You just compete and compete to be the best for yourself because when you put your team together — it’s a team game. You have to rely on each and every individual. So watching those guys compete at practice, and then knowing that I’m going to compete as well, that’s what I’m really excited to do.”

Nix certainly has the right mentality for success in the NFL. He knows that the comparison means nothing if he doesn’t deliver on the field. Now teamed up with Payton, he aims to follow in Brees’ path.

“I knew the efficient offenses that they had and how well they worked together,” Nix said of the coach-QB duo. “Honestly, in college you learn with so many different coaches, that relationship is so important. So it’s one that every quarterback and play caller and head coach need to have together. I’m excited to be around him [Payton]; I’m excited to learn from him. Everything he tells me is something that I’m probably not going to know. So I’m going to do my best to take it all in and apply it to the field.”

Nix will report for rookie minicamp next month followed by mandatory minicamp in June and the start of training camp in late July. He’ll make his live debut when the Broncos begin preseason in August.

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Can Texas learn from first round QB Bo Nix in optimizing Ewers?

Can Steve Sarkisian set up Ewers to have a breakout season like Bo Nix did?

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers shares a few things with former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. Both Ewers and Nix began their career with high expectations before early struggles left a defining first impression.

Quinn Ewers famously struggled in his first season completing just 58.1% of his passes. The lowlight came against Oklahoma State where Ewers went 19-for-49 for 319 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Nix had a similar game as a freshman.

Prior to transferring to Oregon, Nix faced the Ducks as a member of the Auburn Tigers in 2019. His first start wasn’t much more efficient than Ewers’ worst performance. Nix went 13-for-31 for 177 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He went on to complete 57.6% of his passes. That completion rate was just below Ewers 58% freshman season.

Unlike Ewers, who completed 69% of his passes in his second season as starter, Nix didn’t improve much in his second year in 2020. Nix completed 59.9% of his passes and threw for less yards, less touchdowns and more interceptions in his sophomore campaign. Eventually the highly touted prospect was benched and transferred to Oregon.

Four years after completing less than 58% of his passes, Nix set college football’s single season completion percentage record (77.4%) throwing for 4,500 yards, 45 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The once inefficient prospect became a Heisman candidate and the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

What seems clear is that accuracy can be improved dramatically over a few seasons. In just one season, Ewers improved his by 11%. What is still lacking is the touchdown total which likely needs to improve from 22 touchdown passes in 2023 to around 30 for the Longhorns to contend.

Bo Nix made highlight throws as a downfield passer at Oregon, but the Ducks helped him out in the same way Texas has aided Quinn Ewers. Oregon gave Nix easy throws. That’s the path the Longhorns need to continue to take to ensure Ewers succeeds moving forward. It could all but secure his draft stock.

There are several ways in which Texas can give Ewers easy completions. Oregon put up high scoring totals with offensive explosion led by Nix at quarterback. The Longhorns could duplicate those scoring totals by employing more tempo and catching opponents off balance. The approach greatly aided current Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel at Oklahoma and could help Ewers.

The bubble screen and run-pass option (RPO) have given Ewers open throws, but Sarkisian might get more innovative to create more yards of separation in 2024.

The downfield passing game has been a struggle for Ewers at Texas. While it has improved he will need to take another step to put up title caliber production at quarterback. Even so, with continued improvement in short and intermediate passing, where Ewers made the most strides in 2023, Ewers can go from a good to elite completion rate in the upcoming season.

Time and experience can help a quarterback improve, but Oregon was partially responsible for Nix’s breakout 2023 season. The Longhorns can set Ewers up for success by finding ways to make the game easier for the former five-star prospect.

Broncos and mayor Mike Johnston want to bring the NFL draft to Denver

The Broncos and mayor Mike Johnston want to bring the NFL draft to Denver.

The Denver Broncos are making important decisions regarding their football future in the 2024 NFL draft hosted by Detroit this weekend.

Meanwhile, there is one man on a mission to make an important pitch to the NFL regarding a future NFL draft coming to Denver: mayor Mike Johnston.

Johnston traveled to Detroit with a delegation of city officials to learn from the host city’s leaders on what infrastructure, planning and execution is needed to make this event possible.

Johnston, along with the Broncos ownership group, have expressed significant interest in showcasing the Mile High City to the NFL world. Recent drafts, such as the ones in Nashville, Kansas City and Las Vegas have featured great locations for the yearly draft. Denver wants to join the rotation.

It would make sense for Colorado to host a draft, as the Rocky Mountains are a beautiful backdrop for the event, and the state is home to the best fans in football.

Johnston was pictured during the first round of the NFL draft cheering the Broncos’ selection of quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick.

Green Bay, Wisconsin will be the host city for the 2025 NFL draft. Denver would like to host the draft in 2026 or 2027.

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Watch new Broncos QB Bo Nix’s introductory press conference

New Broncos quarterback Bo Nix held an introductory press conference at the team’s facility on Friday.

After being picked by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, quarterback Bo Nix held an introductory press conference at the team’s Centura Health Training Center.

You can watch the quarterback’s 22-minute press conference in the below video, courtesy of the team’s official YouTube page.

Nix joins the team as a 24-year-old rookie after playing five years in college. He is expected to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting quarterback job this summer.

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One reason Caleb Williams is a better NFL draft prospect than Bo Nix

Caleb Williams and Bo Nix, if given the same level of pass protection, are not the same quarterback.

Caleb Williams was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. No one expected anything else. However, Bo Nix went at No. 12 to the Denver Broncos, just 11 spots lower. Most pundits and analysts weren’t expecting a selection that high and that early in the draft. Is Bo Nix really in Caleb Williams’ league? We’ll find out soon enough, and Nix will get a chance to prove himself in Denver. However, there’s one really important reason Williams — at least on paper — outdistances Nix as an NFL draft prospect.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY Sports spelled it out, noting how much pressure there is on Broncos coach Sean Payton to turn Nix into the quarterback he thinks Nix can become:

“As an older prospect with five years of starting experience, Nix might have limited growth potential. But what you see might not be what you get, as Oregon’s offense frequently afforded him easy quick hitters. He’ll have to hang onto the ball longer to let plays develop, which could prove taxing.

“Ultimately, the pick points back to Payton, who had a calamitous first season in Denver and still faces a tough outlook for 2024. If the coach can get Nix up to speed quickly, the decision will surely be celebrated. But Nix’s margin of error appears to have shrunk considerably as he jumps to the next level, and rocky outings in the Rockies will invite heightened scrutiny for the coach given how poorly his tenure started.”

Ducks Wire has noted how Bo Nix received a clean pocket on a consistent basis at Oregon. Caleb Williams did not have clean pockets very regularly at USC in 2023. He did have a lot more clean pockets in 2022, and he won the Heisman Trophy. Caleb and Nix — if given the same level of pass protection — don’t produce the same level of results. Caleb has a much higher ceiling.

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Why didn’t the Broncos trade down to draft Bo Nix later?

Many draft pundits thought the Broncos could trade down and still draft Bo Nix, so why didn’t Denver attempt it?

Going into the 2024 NFL draft, many pundits believed the Denver Broncos could trade down from the 12th overall pick and still land Oregon quarterback Bo Nix later in the first round (or perhaps even in the second round).

When draft night arrived, however, the Broncos stood pat and picked Nix at No. 12, a selection that many national pundits viewed as a reach. So why didn’t Denver trade down if Nix was the target?

Speaking after the first round on Thursday night, Broncos coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton both addressed that topic.

“We considered moving back, but once [Michael] Penix went, it got a little stressful there at the end,” Paton explained. “We had the Raiders behind us, so we just didn’t want to overthink it. This was our guy, and we were going to take our guy. We did think about it, but not too far.

“We could have moved a couple picks back and maybe have gotten some picks, but at the end of the day, this was our guy. Let’s just take him. Let’s not overthink this. We would have been sick if we lost him just for a couple of fifth-round picks.”

Five quarterbacks had already been picked when Denver went on the clock, including Penix. Las Vegas, another QB-needy team, picked right behind the Broncos, so moving down would have been a risky decision.

“Oftentimes, you hear this, ‘Well, if they don’t get one here, they can go back and get this one,'” Payton said. “I heard those same comments — when the Chiefs selected Patrick [Mahomes] and you go back and tune into everything, it was said, ‘Well, they could have got him later.’ No, they couldn’t have.”

Payton knows firsthand that the Chiefs could not have waited for Mahomes because the New Orleans Saints planned to pick the QB at No. 11 in 2017. Then Kansas City moved up to pick Mahomes at No. 10. Had the Chiefs listened to the notion that “you can get him later,” Mahomes would have been a Saint.

The Broncos did not want to risk a similar scenario with Nix. If the team moved back, there was no guarantee he would still be on the board when Denver went back on the clock.

“Let’s not worry about — and we all understand managing the draft, but let’s worry about what it’s going to look like three years from now,” Payton said. “Three to four years from now, this class will be judged. Make sure we get the right guy there [at No. 12].”

KOA Radio reported that Denver had Nix ranked as the third-best quarterback on their board behind Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. Nix was “their guy,” and it would have been too big of a risk to trade down while hoping he fell to a later pick. The Broncos set out to get their QB and they made it happen at No. 12.

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Bo Nix NFL draft selection at No. 12 sends a message to Caleb Williams

Bo Nix is just 11 draft spots lower than Caleb Williams, thanks to the Denver Broncos.

The Denver Broncos took Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. While the Broncos did not intend to send a message to Caleb Williams, and while Nix himself is not focused on Caleb, the pick definitely conveyed a specific line of thought. Very simply, Caleb Williams is not all that better than Bo Nix.

USC fans will tell you that Caleb Williams is a lot better than Nix, but in 2023, Nix clearly had the better season. Last year, Nix led Oregon to the Pac-12 Championship Game and an 11-win regular season, which is what Caleb did one year earlier when he won the Heisman Trophy. USC fans will come back and say — correctly — that Caleb lacked the pass protection in 2023 which he enjoyed in 2022. Bo Nix had a very clean pocket last year at Oregon. So, when NFL draft analysts talk about Nix’s accuracy, they’re not mentioning how much time Nix had to find the right receiver. Give Caleb and Nix equal time in the pocket, and Caleb’s quality will emerge in full.

Nix being taken at No. 12, and Michael Penix going at No. 8, puts very little distance between Caleb Williams and the other top Pac-12 quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft class. It’s time for Caleb to prove that he is far better than those other two Pac-12 signal-callers.

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