Broncos Thrilled to Draft "Extremely Intelligent" Quarterback Bo Nix

The Denver Broncos made a bold move in the NFL Draft, selecting quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick, and the team's leadership is confident in his abilities.

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The Denver Broncos entered the NFL Draft with a dire need for a franchise quarterback, and they found their man when Bo Nix unexpectedly fell into their lap. With the 12th overall pick, the Broncos selected the Oregon Ducks star, who is widely regarded as one of the most intelligent and efficient passers in college football.

"He's extremely intelligent, really smart. He handled a lot of the protections," Broncos head coach Sean Payton said after the draft. "When you watch him, it's pretty calming. He's very efficient, and it's not just because of the [underneath throws]. You see a ton of NFL throws in their offense."

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Payton was so impressed with Nix that he admitted to feeling frustrated when analysts would hype him up in the media.

"Once we knew this was our target … I would be like, 'Shh! Can you be quiet?'" Payton said with a chuckle. "Look, I think that a lot of times the offense gets built around the player. So, we moved in a direction for years relative to what [former QB] Drew [Brees] did. But when he wasn't starting, it was [former QB] Teddy [Bridgewater] or [QB] Jameis [Winston]. So it wasn't like 'this guy fits our system,' because our system — let's just say if it was another quarterback.

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"We want the best player. We did our best to talk about other players and directions. It's difficult sometimes. You don't want everyone to know that this is the player. But I saw what you guys saw. I would cringe and (general manager) George (Paton) would cringe. We're like, 'Ah!' Those are things you can't control."

Nix's selection marked a historic moment in the NFL Draft, as he became the sixth quarterback taken in the first round, the fewest number of picks ever used to draft that many signal-callers. It was also just the second time six quarterbacks had been selected in the first round, matching the legendary 1983 class.

Nix's collegiate career has been a tale of two halves. He began his journey at Auburn, where he struggled to find consistency. However, after transferring to Oregon in 2022, he blossomed into one of the most prolific passers in the country. In 2022, he set career highs in yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage.

But 2023 was Nix's breakout season. He shattered his previous records, passing for 4,509 yards and 45 touchdowns with a remarkable 77.4% completion rate.

"He's got a really good command of the system," Payton said. "He can do different things and make the team better, and you don't find many guys like that in this draft. It's a unique talent that he has, and he's still a young guy. We're excited to work with him and see what he can do."

The Broncos' acquisition of Nix is a significant step in their rebuilding process. After years of struggling to find a reliable quarterback, they now have a young, talented player who has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone.