Following the conclusion of their two-year tenure with Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos opted for University of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick in the recent NFL Draft.
Nix was widely regarded as one of the top six QB prospects in a draft class rich with talent, although skepticism surrounds him in certain quarters. One critique leveled against him is his purported inability to excel in intermediate-to-long-range throws, despite his impressive statistics with the Ducks.
In response to this criticism, Nix urged detractors to take a closer look at his performance. “Quite frankly, I completed a lot of long ones too,” the 24-year-old quipped when questioned by Denver media. “When people go back and watch the film, they can see everything they need to watch. But that’s here and gone. I’m excited to be here now and do whatever I need to do to win the games.”
Denver Broncos' QB Bo Nix shoots down the criticism surrounding his game. And he’s right.https://t.co/O99xVBfw38
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) May 6, 2024
Nix’s achievements at Oregon include throwing for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns last season, earning him a finalist spot for the Heisman Trophy, eventually won by Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Notably, he achieved an outstanding 77.4 percent completion rate in 2023, setting an all-time NCAA record, surpassing the previous mark set by Mac Jones.
Despite these accomplishments, Nix’s average of 9.6 yards per pass attempt may raise questions about whether he predominantly relied on short passes.
Since the retirement of the legendary Peyton Manning following their Super Bowl 50 victory, the Broncos have struggled to find a franchise quarterback and have failed to reach the playoffs since their championship win. With deficiencies in offensive weapons at the skill positions, the Broncos face a challenging road to postseason contention, even if Nix manages to dispel doubts during his rookie campaign.
