Denver Broncos select Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix in 2024 NFL draft: What to know
On a night when quarterbacks were flying off the board, Bo Nix wasn't gonna be left behind.
The Oregon quarterback was selected by the Denver Broncos with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday as the 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist heads to the Mile High city to play for Super Bowl winning coach Sean Payton.
Nix, who set the NCAA record for a QB with 61 career starts over five seasons, is the seventh Duck quarterback to be drafted in the first round, joining Justin Herbert (2020), Marcus Mariota (2015), Joey Harrington (2002), Akili Smith (1999), Chris Miller (1987) and George Shaw (1955).
He also became Oregon's fifth first-round selection in as many years, following Penei Sewell (2021), Herbert, Kayvon Thibodeaux (2022) and Christian Gonzalez (2023).
Nix, who watched the draft with family and friends in Alabama, was the sixth quarterback taken Thursday, setting NFL draft record for first-round QB selections. He'll be reunited in Denver with former Oregon center Alex Forsyth, who was picked by the Broncos in the seventh round last year.
Here's what Nix brings to the Broncos, based on his career at Oregon.
What Bo Nix brings to Denver Broncos in 2024 NFL draft
Nix is an efficient and accurate passer who boasts above-average athleticism, intelligence and leadership qualities. Nix was the Pac-12 offensive player of the year in 2023, his second season at Oregon after a three-year starting career at Auburn. He set the NCAA record for single-season completion percentage (77.45%), career starts by a quarterback (61) and set single-season program records with 364 completions, 4,508 passing yards and an NCAA-best 45 passing TDs. He also ended his career ranked second in the NCAA in total yards (16,965), tied for fourth in total touchdowns (152), sixth in passing yards and seventh in completions.
Bo Nix highlights at Oregon football
Nix threw for multiple touchdowns in all 14 games in 2023, but his best outing came against Arizona State and coach Kenny Dillingham, Nix’s former offensive coordinator at Oregon. Nix threw for 404 yards overall and six first-half TDs against the Sun Devils. He also threw for five TDs in the Fiesta Bowl against Liberty. One year earlier, he threaded a 6-yard TD pass to Chase Cota on fourth-and-2 with 19 seconds to play to rally the Ducks past QB Drake Maye and North Carolina for a 28-27 win in the 2022 Holiday Bowl.
Bo Nix stats with Oregon football
15,351 passing yards, 113 TD, 26 INT, 66.4% comp. (1,286-for-1,936); 1,613 rushing yards, 38 TD.
How Bo Nix performed at NFL Combine, Oregon's Pro Day
Nix didn’t participate in any of the physical tests at the NFL Scouting Combine but was one of the few top QBs to participate in throwing drills. He was impressive again during Oregon’s Pro Day as he looked sharp and accurate while throwing to a handful of his former Duck teammates, including NFL draft prospects Troy Franklin and Bucky Irving.
Follow Chris Hansen on X @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Denver Broncos pick Oregon football QB Bo Nix in 2024 NFL draft
