The Denver Broncos have been linked to Bo Nix often and the Senior Bowl only intensified it.
Senior Bowl week offers a barometer on each prospect’s NFL draft stock. Considering the Denver Broncos needs at quarterback, it was an illuminating week.
Oregon’s Bo Nix was in Mobile, AL, last week for the Senior Bowl, and has been a catchy name sticking like glue to the Broncos of late. It’s no great surprise to find Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports matching the Ducks passer with Sean Payton’s team after seeing him perform this week.
Payton wants a play-within-the-system, get-it-out-quickly pocket passer, and sure, some athleticism to extend plays wouldn’t be the worst addition to the skill set. Acquaint yourselves with Nix, Broncos fans.
Now, of course I don’t know Denver’s draft intentions. But Nix fits the latter description to a T. And Payton can watch his entire collegiate career to witness the maturation Nix made from a Wilson-esque quarterback at Auburn to a methodical, calculated pocket passer always looking to throw the ball in a hurry based on where the defense dictated. After barely getting to 60% completion in his final season at Auburn, Nix completed 71.4% of this passes with the Ducks in 2022 and that rate jumped to 77.4% in 2023.
And given his athleticism and the magnitude of the position, Nix going No. 12 overall wouldn’t be shocking.
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Broncos fans are probably sick of hearing how Payton has his heart set on a Drew Brees precision passing clone to run his offense in Denver. However, placing such unrealistic expectations on Nix would be counter-productive.
Nix was insistent last week in Mobile that his five-year journey in college was worthwhile, despite it being time-consuming. It took him from being a less accurate passer at Auburn all the way to becoming a more accomplished all-round quarterback at Oregon who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
The elongated process has helped make a believer out of Trapasso, who was also quick to address the elephant in the room: the Broncos selecting Nix at No. 12 overall, even though it presents the risk of being a classic quarterback reach.
The importance of Denver’s 2024 draft haul might lead the team brass to an analysis paralysis of sorts. But above all else, the onus will come to rest on Payton, who’ll have to weigh up all the positive and negative ramifications of standing pat at No. 12 overall, or moving up or down the board on April 25.
Any thought of channeling some ’80s vibes and pulling off the type of blockbuster draft-day trade that saw John Elway land in Denver would inevitably mean defensive puzzle piece Patrick Surtain II would be playing elsewhere next season. Thus, settling on a clear strategy will be important, as will keeping a lid on Payton’s ultimate plan.
Loose lips sink ships in the NFL draft game of bluff and counter-bluff, but if the Broncos are set on a guy, they had best go get him. Is Nix that guy? Only time will tell.
