Nick Wright Draws Eerie Parallels Between Bo Nix And Mac Jones’ Rookie Seasons

The similarities are definitely there. But they are also what law enforcement would call ‘circumstantial evidence.’ The Denver QB is in a much better situation than Jones was. Nix has an offensive genius in Sean Payton, while Jones had an over-the-hill Bill Belichick, who’s more of a defensive guy.

We would argue that Nix’s weapons are also much better. Though their stats were eerily similar, the Oregon product’s ability to run provides him a pretty significant edge overall. Denver’s defense is also elite, which helps relieve pressure on Nix to win it on his own. However, Wright has been predicting a Year 2 drop-off for Nix since April of this year.

“People think that I need to admit I was wrong about Bo Nix. I think it’s going to be a glorious Category 2 where it will be proven out the way people thought I need to admit I was wrong about Mac Jones,” he elaborated.

“The older, experienced, low ceiling, high floor quarterbacks that look good in Year 1 don’t always take that big jump in Year 2. And in fact, sometimes they go backwards because there’s so much more film on them.”

Even apart from Nix, Wright thinks the Broncos are a paper tiger as a whole, purely based on their performances against quality competition in the previous year. “Last year they won 10 games. How did you do against playoff teams in your conference?” he asked.

“You played Pittsburgh Week 2 and lost, played the Chargers Week 6 and lost, played the Ravens Week 9 and lost, played the Chiefs Week 10 and lost, played the Chargers Week 16 and lost, played the Bengals—who weren’t in the playoffs, but that was a playoff-level game—Week 17 and lost. You then played the Bills in the actual playoffs and lost 31-7. Why am I supposed to believe that team all of a sudden is going to be great?” he added.

That’s a fair point, and one that Broncos fans won’t want to hear considering all the positive vibes they have around their team right now. Only time will tell. But while we don’t agree with Nick Wright overall, he did put forth some numbers that are hard to argue with.