The rookie quarterback leading the 2024 draft class as November arrives isn’t Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels, who were the top two picks in April and had an exciting matchup in Week 8 where both scored touchdowns in the last 25 seconds.
Instead, it’s Denver’s Bo Nix, who was named the AFC’s Offensive Rookie of the Month on Thursday, marking a strong comeback after a tough September.
Nix had an impressive October, guiding the Broncos (5-3) to three big wins and their best start through eight games in eight years. His five victories have already beaten the four wins by John Elway (1983) and Drew Lock (2019), making him the rookie QB with the most wins in Broncos history.
In October, Nix led all rookie quarterbacks with seven touchdown passes, a 7-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, 870 passing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. He helped the Broncos recover from an 0-2 start, winning five of their last six games.
He’s making great progress—not just in his ability to run—after a slow beginning where he threw four interceptions in the first two weeks and didn’t get a touchdown pass until Week 4.
Although he’s still working on his footwork, timing, and throwing techniques, Nix is showing a maturity that goes beyond his rookie status. This supports coach Sean Payton’s view that Nix is not a typical rookie QB, having started a total of 61 games at Auburn and Oregon, which is a record for a college quarterback.
This maturity is evident not only on game day but also during the week. Nix, who is 24, behaves like someone who has been in the league for a while.
“Yes, I think so,” Payton said. “He is very much routine driven. Of course, he’s married. So aside from game day, his schedule here with film — I think he’s further along.
I think I said this after the draft process, we viewed it as a plus that he had that experience. We also viewed the adversity that he had early on that he came back from.”
Consider this: Nix, the sixth quarterback picked in 2024, started 48 more college games than Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who was the third QB chosen in 2023 and the fourth overall pick. Richardson was benched this week after completing just 44% of his passes and raised eyebrows when he tapped out on Sunday because he was tired.
Payton said this week that Nix’s 61 college starts “was a plus,” but what really impressed the Broncos was “the accuracy, the arm strength, the arm talent, the location and he runs a little better than I expected.”
This isn’t the first time Payton has highlighted Nix’s running ability. The Broncos didn’t have Nix run during his visit to the team, but his 259 rushing yards and four touchdown runs have added a nice element to Denver’s game plans.
Nix downplays his athletic skills, saying he needs to improve his throwing to be seen as a true dual-threat QB. He reacted with disbelief when a reporter noted that his rushing stats are similar to those of Ravens’ two-time MVP, Lamar Jackson (502 yards, two TDs), before their Sunday game in Baltimore (5-3).
“If I try to do what Lamar would do, I wouldn’t be here,” Nix said. “He’s special when it comes to not only running the ball — he’s well-known for his explosive runs — but he’s a fully qualified quarterback in the pocket. He does some really good things with his arm.”
“It’s going to be fun to see him,” added Nix, who watched him in high school when Louisville played Clemson, “and he was electric in that one, too. I’m excited to play against him on the same level. It’s still crazy I get to play against these guys.”
Nix mentioned that he keeps track of all the quarterbacks drafted ahead of him at No. 12: Williams, Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy, who’s on injured reserve.
“It’s fun to see all of our growth, it’s fun to watch other guys,” he said. Being the sixth QB drafted this year doesn’t bother him or push him harder.
“I landed right where I needed to be,” Nix said. “It’s a great fit for both of us. I couldn’t be happier with how it ended up. I learn from Coach Payton a lot each and every game we go into together.”
