Bo Nix, the quarterback most connected to the Denver Broncos in the pre-draft process has officially become a part of the team after being selected with the No. 12 overall pick. It was the first time in NFL history that quarterbacks were taken with six of the first 12 picks.
Many draft analysts will call this a reach, but Sean Payton got the quarterback that he wanted. Nix, one of the most experienced college quarterbacks of all-time between Auburn and Oregon, threw for over 15,000 career yards in college along with 113 touchdowns.
He had an incredibly good 2023 season that saw him throw for 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions at Oregon, putting him firmly in the Heisman Trophy race all season long.
Denver held a private workout with Bo Nix the day after his pro day. The night before the workout, the Broncos sent Nix three packets of offensive play installation. And the next morning, as they worked in the classroom with Nix, he “crushed it”, per a Broncos source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2024
The…
Nix was a great college player, but how does this pick shake out for the Broncos?
Grading Broncos' selection of Bo Nix
It makes absolutely no sense. Perhaps the Broncos were spooked by the Atlanta Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall and thought they could get left in the dark with quarterbacks flying off the board.
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But with Brock Bowers still sitting there (who went with the very next pick to the Las Vegas Raiders), you don't make this pick. With no other picks until No. 76, you don't make this pick. And after trading for Zach Wilson just a few days ago, why are you making that pick or pulling off that trade?
Sean Payton is betting his legacy on Bo Nix.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) April 26, 2024
That’s good enough for me
The Broncos have many holes on this roster. Nix may fill one of those eventually, but not having a second-round pick in this draft is still a major issue. Payton may have really wanted Nix and as a Broncos fan, you'll just have to hope it works out.
But from a smart football team standpoint, this was an atrocious pick.
When the Broncos went on the clock, you saw a graphic (at least on the NFL Network telecast) that stated that the team was the first in NFL history to miss the playoffs in eight straight seasons following a Super Bowl victory. Well, there is a good reason for that. Poor football decisions. And one of those just reared its ugly head... again.
Grade: C-
