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The head coach was impressed with how smart and accurate Bo Nix is at the most important position in football.
Moments after the Denver Broncos made their pick at 12, head coach Sean Payton told Pat McAfee he likes to start with the things a player can do.
And that list on Bo Nix turned out to be a basic QB checklist for Payton:
“First on 3rd down, first with fewest sacks, the most accurate passer in college football history, first in two-minute before the half, first in two-minute at the end of the game, second in red zone,” Payton rattled off. “He’s extremely smart; he handles the protections and he’s a tough sack.”
It was exactly what Payton thought Russell Wilson couldn’t do and that’s what made Nix the perfect fit for Payton.
“His arm strength was extremely impressive,” Payton said, noting that he warned his scouts to ignore the outside noise and what he called “the NFL train” and just pay attention to what they saw in front of them in the player.
And what they saw was a kid with a lot of experience, a lot of talent and a ton of football knowledge.
Broncos GM George Paton said Bo Nix “fit a lot of things [HC] Sean [Payton] likes in a quarterback.”
“He was just an ideal fit for what we want here.”
Nix said in his conference call presser that he loved the meetings he had with the Broncos.
“We talked a lot of football, and we talked a lot about his scheme, and what he’s done for so many years and how he’s been so successful. It was a blast talking football, to be honest with you,” Nix said, noting how much it meant that they brought so many guys out to Eugene – a campus that’s not so easy to get to. “I was just very honored to have them around. I was super excited, super thrilled to work with them. I had a blast, and I definitely saw a great relationship there at that moment. So I’m just happy to be a part of their team now.”
Nix also believes a lot of the offense Payton will run includes schemes Nix is already comfortable doing.
“I think when you look at their offense, when you look at the scheme, [there are] a lot of really fun concepts that I’ve run in the past, a lot of fun things that I’ve been able to do and have success in,” Nix said. “We were able to just talk over those and communicate those. I believe just talking football is one of the best things you can do in the process and that’s what we did a lot.”
Before the Broncos would have a private workout with any of the prospective QBs, they would send some playbook material – more than they could handle in one night – to see how they processed it.
Nix’s experience with five different offensive coordinators in his five years of playing college football helped in that area.
“I’ve been able to learn a lot, and I’ve been given a lot of information, and I’ve had to put it to use,” Nix said. “I feel like that prepared me at a high level… I’ll be able to learn and grow as time goes on as we go into camps and get into practice. I just feel really confident in myself that I’ll be able to pick it up, ask good questions, be very intentional and enjoy the process.”
Mile High City-bound.#BroncosDraft x @BoNix10 pic.twitter.com/dSUoTgBrja
With Nix’s addition, the Broncos will have four quarterbacks on the roster – Nix, Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci.
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No matter, says Nix. He’s fine competing.
“I know everybody has to compete. I know everyone has to go to work,” he said, adding that he hasn’t had any specific conversations about it. “I just can’t wait to get around the locker room, can’t wait to get around the guys, meet all my new teammates, new coaches and get to work.”
There will be one slightly familiar face in the QB room when Nix gets to town – Stidham. Although Stidham left Auburn before Nix arrived, Stidham’s leadership on the team was one of the reasons Nix was interested in playing for the Tigers.
“Really thought he did a good job of putting Auburn back to where it was — a place that I wanted to go and be a part of,” Nix said. “A lot of that was through his leadership, through his play. …He’s a very smart quarterback, very talented guy. I know he throws the ball really well. I just remember watching him a lot and looking up to him. I’m excited to be his teammate.”
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