After pulling the plug on their two-year experiment with Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos took University of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick in the NFL Draft just days ago.
Just about everyone considered Nix one of the top-six QB prospects in a draft class that is stacked with them, but many have their doubts about him.
One criticism he has received is that despite putting up impressive numbers with the Ducks, he cannot really succeed on intermediate-to-long-range throws.
But Nix responded to that criticism and told those critics to review his play a little closer, per Zac Stevens.
“Quite frankly, I completed a lot of long ones too,” the 24-year old quipped back, when asked by Denver media how he responds to that criticism. “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.”
Nix threw for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns last season, and he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which went to Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
He also completed an amazing 77.4 percent of his pass attempts in 2023, which was an all-time NCAA record, breaking the previous mark set by Mac Jones.
Nix did average 9.6 yards per pass attempt, which may not fully suggest a signal-caller who mostly stuck to making short passes.
Denver hasn’t had a legitimate franchise quarterback since the legendary Peyton Manning retired following their win in Super Bowl 50, and they have certainly been in the wilderness ever since.
They haven’t made the playoffs since winning that Vince Lombardi Trophy, and they have finished with a winning record just once in that span — that was in 2016 when they went 9-7.
With a lack of offensive weapons at the skill positions, the Broncos appear to have a long way to go before they make the postseason again, even if Nix truly silences his doubters during his rookie season.
