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Bo Nix not getting enough credit for rookie season
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) looks to pass in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Broncos' Bo Nix not getting enough credit for impressive rookie season

Bo Nix finished third in 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, but the Denver Broncos quarterback doesn't seem to be receiving much fanfare heading into his second season. 

On Monday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler released his top-10 quarterbacks list, which features thoughts from coaches, executives and scouts. Nix missed the cut, but doesn't the 25-year-old QB deserve an honorable mention after an impressive rookie season?

"Interestingly, of the [second-year QBs], the most we know about is Nix," wrote Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer in his Monday column. "I'm also not sure Nix gets the credit he deserves for how last year went — the Denver Broncos didn't have a single Pro Bowler on offense and only three alternates (tackle Garett Bolles, guard Quinn Meinerz and Nix himself) — and the quarterback was runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year for a playoff team." 

Nix went 10-7 in 17 regular-season starts, finishing with 34 touchdowns (29 passing, four rushing and one receiving). Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, meanwhile, went 12-5 and had 31 touchdowns (25 passing and six rushing) in 17 starts, winning 2024 OROY. The Commanders QB, however, ranked No. 5 in Fowler's survey.

Perhaps league insiders felt Nix's numbers are a byproduct of Denver head coach Sean Payton's system. Still, he thrived with a spotty receiving corps. Denver finished with the sixth-most drops (32) in the league in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.

Denver signed tight end Evan Engram, a two-time Pro Bowler, in free agency, who should help Nix push the ball downfield more during the 2025 season.

Nix ranked 29th in the league in yards per pass attempt (6.7) among 36 eligible QBs last season, but that's not because of a weak arm.

In a 30-24 Week 16 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, he threw a TD pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. 67 yards through the air. It's the second-longest completion Next Gen Stats has tracked since its inception in 2014.

Nix could be in a position to continue to make a name for himself after his rookie season, which may have gone under the radar. 

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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