Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton named rookie Bo Nix as their starting quarterback for their 2024 season opener on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. The former Oregon standout has some illustrious company after becoming the first Broncos rookie quarterback to start a Week 1 game since Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.
Nix was impressive during the preseason, completing 22 passes out of 30 attempts for 240 yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers. His exceptional display made him QB1 over Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
While there was much mystery in what the Broncos would do in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, they selected Nix with the 12th overall selection. Some pundits predicted that the Broncos might move around the draft board, but Denver stayed where they are and landed their potential franchise quarterback.
It's Bo Time.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 21, 2024
HC Sean Payton has named Bo Nix our starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/R80y6ziIcX
Nix was the sixth quarterback selected in Round 1 of the 2024 draft, following Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy. That group has had conflicting fates, as McCarthy will be out for the season due to a torn meniscus that required surgery. Meanwhile, like Nix, the Washington Commanders named Daniels their Week 1 starter.
Before entering the NFL, Nix established an NCAA record 77.4 completion percentage in his final year with the Ducks. The year before, Nix completed 71.9 percent of his passes, leading to 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns.
-Lance Fernandez