As soon as Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos selected Bo Nix with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it was obvious the former Oregon quarterback was in the best position to succeed. He not only proved to be a good fit for Payton’s offensive system, but he also excelled as the second-best rookie quarterback selected in the draft.
That is no shade to Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr, but based on overall success as a starting rookie QB, Nix had the second-best season aside from Jayden Daniels in leading the Broncos to the playoffs. Along with multiple Rookie of the Week accolades, Nix’s rookie performance has led to a debut on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 list.
Coming in at No. 64, the Broncos second-year quarterback was all that and more in Payton’s system.
NFL.com’s Christian Gonzales writes:
“Denver has found its long-term answer at quarterback with Nix. The 2024 No. 12 overall pick was composed as a rookie from the beginning of the season to the end, executing Sean Payton’s playbook like a veteran QB. Nix led Denver to a playoff spot for the first time since the club won Super Bowl 50, and there’s plenty to look forward to in Year 2 and beyond. He might not have won Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he made his first Top 100 appearance to close out his memorable campaign.”
Along with throwing for 3,775 yards with 29 touchdowns and a 66.3 completion percentage, Nix displayed a sneaky scrambling ability rushing for 430 yards with another 4 touchdowns. With a larger spotlight on him, the big question facing Nix is whether he can be more transformation in Year 2.
Nix has high expectations to live up to
Nix’s success in the Broncos’ offense was due to the offensive poise Payton put around him. With his ability to deliver within the game plan and not force too much with his arm, Nix was able to slide into his comfort zone quickly during his rookie season.
In Year 2, the Broncos will be looking for Nix to be more of a leader. He will have the playmakers around him and a young running back in the backfield in RJ Harvey who should take some of the pressure off Nix just as, if not more, than Javonte Williams did a year ago. The Broncos also signed J.K. Dobbins to add to the backfield with emphasis on making the Broncos a more balanced offense. Also, the addition of pass-catching tight end Evan Engram should give Nix yet another target to get the ball quickly to and a bigger target in red zone situations.
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Along with a solid offensive line and a defense that looks like one of the best in the AFC, Payton has put a team around Nix that can make some noise in the conference. How far the team can go will depend on Nix and his ability to be more transformational coming off a successful rookie season. Can the young quarterback deliver with more on his shoulder? Can he once again lead his team to the playoffs? Can he prove to the league that he has even more of a ceiling to reach?
In landing on the top 100 NFL players list, the expectations are high.