You didn’t have to be an expert in football to predict that the Denver Broncos would almost surely select a quarterback in the run-up to the 2024 NFL draft. The Broncos most likely didn’t expect to be a part of the biggest quarterback run in the first round of the NFL in more than four decades.
Bo Nix of Oregon, the record-tying sixth quarterback selected in the first round, was selected by them at No. 12 overall when it came time to make their selection.
Nix appears to be settling in just eight games into the 2024 regular season. Following Nix’s greatest game as a professional, in which he went 28-of-37 passing for 284 yards and four touchdowns, three passing and one rushing, in a 28-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, he is also being compared to one of the NFL’s best at his position.
Another plus for Nix, who leads the Broncos into a highly anticipated game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, is that the team is 5-3 and in the playoff race. Kurt Benkert, a former NFL quarterback, stated on “Good Morning Football” on November 1 that “Nix can win in a lot of different ways.” Against the Panthers, he made some throws that were comparable to those of the top five NFL quarterbacks. I’m eager to watch what he can accomplish after the Broncos surround him. He can be good for a long time, in my opinion.
Most of the time, Bo, if you just give him some open space, he will take advantage of it. Jared Goff, who is fantastic when given some free space, comes to mind when I think of it.
Goff Didn’t Take Straight Line to NFL’S Elite QBs
In contrast to Goff’s experience following his selection by the Los Angeles Rams with the first overall pick out of California in the 2016 NFL Draft, Nix’s rookie season has been a breeze.
In 2017 and 2018, Goff had consecutive Pro Bowl seasons after going 0–7 as a rookie. During that time, he went 24–7 as a starter. Before the 2021 season, the Rams gave up on Goff and traded him to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford, another former No. 1 overall pick. However, Goff has had a remarkable comeback in Detroit that few could have predicted.
Goff led Detroit to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and replied with another Pro Bowl season in 2022 after his first season with the Lions in 2021 ended 3-10-1. In May 2024, he cashed in with a 4-year, $212 million contract deal. Nix has a rookie contract worth $18.6 million for four years.
Nix Compared to Another Pro Bowl QB Before Draft
Goff’s path to become a top NFL quarterback was comparable to Nix’s path to getting selected in the first round. After graduating from Pinson Valley (Alabama) High School, Nix was the top quarterback recruit in the country. In 2019, he won the SEC Freshman of the Year award at Auburn. Before transferring to Oregon and becoming one of the best college football players and a top NFL prospect, Nix had two more tumultuous seasons at Auburn. In 2023, he led the country in throwing touchdowns (45), pass completions (364), and pass completion percentage (77.4), capping his career.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein compared Nix to four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo in his pre-draft assessment of Nix. Zierlein remarked, “Rare five-year starting quarterback whose play has matured in front of our eyes.” “Nix exhibits the accuracy, arm skill, and agility typical of today’s elite quarterbacks … With a skill set comparable to that of the NFL, Nix seems more than prepared to take on the league.