Broncos make a needed, but surprising, selection with No. 12 pick

The recent Ducks standout had the murkiest outlook of all the top QB prospects. He ultimately fell in order behind the projected top-five at the position, but it’s a bit of a surprise that he landed as early as No. 12. 

No less, the selection was made by Sean Payton, who ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes has never taken a first-round QB in his long NFL career.

Nix put up less-than-impressive numbers during his time at Auburn, but a transfer to Oregon ahead of the 2022 campaign paved the way for his draft stock rising considerably. He totaled 94 touchdowns (74 passing, 20 rushing) in his two seasons with the Ducks, remaining efficient as a passer. Nix completed 74.9% of his attempts at Oregon, throwing only 10 interceptions along the way.

While Nix may lack the upside of some of his draft counterparts, the Broncos are confident he can be a steady presence on their offense for years to come. As Schefter notes, the organization held a private workout with the Oregon product the day before his pro day. 

The night before that private workout, the Broncos sent the prospect “three packets of offensive play installation,” and Nix proceeded to “crush it.” As a result, the Broncos felt comfortable taking him much earlier than many draft pundits expected.

Of course, it’s not a huge surprise that the Broncos were seeking a quarterback ... it was just a question of which signal caller they’d land on. The team moved on from Russell Wilson this offseason and didn’t do a whole lot to replace him. The organization recently acquired Zach Wilson from the Jets, adding the former second-overall pick to a depth chart that also features Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci. 

Considering that underwhelming trio, there’s a chance Nix runs with the starting job right away, although that depth could also afford the rookie some time on the bench.

As Schefter notes, there have been six QBs selected within the first 12 picks. This matches the total that went in the famous 1983 NFL Draft.