Broncos HC Sean Payton discusses similarities between rookie QB and future Hall of Famer

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has yet to name a starting quarterback, but it's safe to assume he has a favorite.

During the draft process, some analysts compared rookie QB Bo Nix to Drew Brees, who starred under Payton in 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints. When asked to compare the 24-year-old passer and future Hall of Famer Tuesday, the HC shared noteworthy similarities.

"I would say mentally, he wants to know as much as he can as fast as he can," Payton said of Nix. "He locates the ball well. He's accurate, and I think Drew was." 

Brees posted the second-highest completion percentage (67.7%) in league history in 20 seasons, while Nix completed an NCAA-record 77.45%of his passes in his final season at Oregon.

It's fair to wonder whether Nix's numbers were a byproduct of an excellent system, as he didn't consistently push the ball downfield at Oregon. Per Pro Football Focus, the 2023 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year ranked 167th in the FBS in average target depth (6.8 yards) and first in screen yards (749).

Before transferring to Oregon in December 2021, Nix struggled against elite competition in the Southeastern Conference. He completed 59.4% of his passes in three seasons at Auburn.

However, Mike Klis of KUSA-TV in Denver noted Nix has displayed impressive accuracy on intermediate throws at OTAs, which may alleviate this concern.