Bo Nix NFL Mock Draft scouting report: What Oregon QB says about Drew Brees comparisons, being a first-round pick

Will Oregon quarterback Bo Nix be drafted in the first or second round of the 2024 NFL Draft? 

The mocks have varying results. Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer projects the Denver Broncos taking Nix with the No. 12 pick in the first round in the latest seven-round mock draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Giants taking Nix with the No. 33 pick in the second round in his two-round mock draft.

For his part, Nix isn't worried about it, saying, "I don't pay a lick of attention to mock drafts."

Yet, there is a caveat to that statement. 

"It would mean a great deal to be a first-round draft pick because not too many people can say that," Nix told Sporting News. "At the end of the day, we can't choose and have nothing to do with it." 

Nix is enjoying the lead-up to the NFL Draft. He is partnered with USAA – the Official NFL Salute to Service partner – ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Nix toured the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Detroit and had a full-flight experience on a UH-60 Black Hawk. 

"We got up there with no doors on the helicopter and we were flying around Detroit," Nix said. "It was an awesome experience and one that I will never forget." 

How will the 2024 NFL Draft compare? There is one Nix comparison that ties into both of those mock drafts – and perhaps Nix’s NFL future. 

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Nix, 24, played five seasons of college football between stints at Auburn. He had a 43-18 record as a starter and finished his career with 15,352 yards, 113 TDs, and 26 interceptions. Nix (6-2, 214) really took off in his two seasons with Dan Lanning at Oregon in 2022-23. 

He had 3,593 passing yards with 29 TDs and seven interceptions in 2022. Last season, he passed for 4,509 yards, 45 TDs and three interceptions. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. 

"My first year there were some games where we kind of exploded, but unfortunately by the end of the year, I was hurt a little bit and banged up," Nix said. "This past year I was able to go through a full season and played a lot of good football. I think both years at Oregon were special. One led to another. Last year if I didn't get hurt, it would be very similar to this year. 

Nix’s efficiency in the passing game has made him a potential first-round pick, but he's not a one-dimensional player. Nix had totaled 744 rushing yards and 20 TDs the past two seasons. The Ducks averaged 44.2 points per game last season, which ranked second in the FBS. Nix said Lanning allowed freedom when calling and changing plays at the line of scrimmage. 

"We were big on different looks and different plays," Nix said. "They put a lot on my plate, but I think that was the fun part – being able to go out there each week. It was just a good chess match between me and the defensive coordinator, and they were always fun. They put a lot on my plate and allowed me to go out there and play very free and get us in the right play. We were able to do that a lot." 

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Bo Nix on Drew Brees comparisons 

Nix has heard the comparison to Drew Brees, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting at Purdue in 2000 before a 20-year Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints. 

"Yeah, I've heard quite a few different ones," Nix said. "If they want to compare me to Drew Brees, then I'll take it. I think he's an incredible player." 

As far as the draft goes, Nix will likely be propped up against Brees in either a first- or second-round scenario. If Nix goes to the Broncos, of course, Sean Payton was Brees’ coach in New Orleans. The style of play and efficiency – Brees had a 67.7-percent career completion percentage in the NFL and led the league in that category six times – will be a talking point. Nix led the FBS at 77.4 percent last season. 

Of course, if Nix falls to the second round, the connection will be even more striking. Brees was drafted by the Chargers with the first pick of Round 2 in the 2001 NFL Draft – the same spot where Kiper projects Nix in 2024. 

Either way, Nix appreciates the comparison. 

"Accuracy and processing and preparing and being ready for games and being smart," Nix said. "Definitely having those traits having those qualities. It's a matter of time. I've got to go out and perform at a high level. It's up to me." 

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Bo Nix, Oregon QBs, and NFL Draft 

Nix does watch other NFL quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Matthew Stafford. 

"These guys have been playing at a high level, and they all have things that I can pull from," Nix said. "They all have qualities that I think I possess as well, so if I can take some of that stuff that makes these guys special and put it into one and do it in my own creative way, then like those guys, on their level, I think I can have a chance to compete with them." 

Nix will be to other Oregon quarterbacks at the next level. The Ducks have had six quarterbacks taken in the first round since 1955, and the QBs have had mixed results. 

Those six quarterbacks have a combined winning percentage of .396 in the NFL, but Mariota and Herbert have enjoyed success in the NFL – albeit not in the postseason. Dan Fouts, a third-round pick in 1973 who passed for 43,040 yards, 254 TDs and 242 interceptions, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kellen Clemens, a second-round pick in 2006, played 12 NFL seasons, primarily as a backup. 

Nix believes he has the right combination of experience and style to have a successful NFL career. 

"The spread offense is really big. It has turned into a spread style with professional concepts," Nix said. "I think from that point of view you could say, yeah, I was in a similar offense to what is going to be at the next level. A lot was asked of me and the players. We could get into a lot of different looks and plays from our creativity and knowledge of the game. We had long play calls. We had quick play calls. Anything in our arsenal, we had all of it." 

Nix partnered with USAA – which continues to work with the NFL to support the military community. Nix’s grandfather Robert Chapman was in the Air Force. "It is important not only to me personally and my family, but the military means so much to our country and the freedoms we have to be in our positions and go out and play sports," Nix said.