Bo Nix

QB Draft Notes: Penix, Daniels, Nix, Raiders

April 26th, 2024 at 5:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The biggest surprise of the first round was Michael Penix Jr. hearing his name called eighth overall. The Falcons added to their quarterback room with their top selection, despite having signed Kirk Cousins in free agency last month.

The latter was taken aback by the decision, one which he became aware of while Atlanta was on the clock. Cousins is in place as the starter for multiple years, leaving Penix as a long-term developmental option (albeit one who is older than many other Day 1 signal-callers placed in a similar position). To no surprise, plenty of speculation has resulted from the Penix selection.

Owner Arthur Blank is believed to have driven this move, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports. The quarterback position was seen as a sore spot entering the 2024 offseason and while the Cousins signing marked a short-term upgrade, the Penix addition is of course one aimed at future stability under center. Owners are often involved in major moves at the top of the draft board such as this one, but how the 2024 season (and beyond) unfolds with GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris at the helm will make for a key storyline vis-à-vis Penix’s path to playing time.

Here are some other QB-related draft notes:

Penix was the fourth signal-caller selected on Thursday, but Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the Heisman runner-up was ranked third on the Falcons’ board. Some in the organization even had Penix second, Breer adds. The Washington alum was seen in some circles as a borderline Day 1 prospect, but his top-10 selection has cemented his status as a central figure in Atlanta’s long-term plans while also helping the value of his rookie contract.
As the top of the first round order played according to expectation, Jayden Daniels was selected second overall by the Commanders. That move came about after the team held an unusual evaluation featuring overlapping visits amongst the class’ best quarterbacks. While that limited Daniels’ availability to get face-to-face time on his own in many respects, Breer notes the Heisman winner was the only prospect who was permitted an “extended, exclusive meeting” with new owner Josh Harris. Given that update, it comes as even less of a surprise Washington followed through with drafting Daniels upon turning down trade interest.
Bo Nix was often mentioned alongside Penix as part of the 2024 class’ second tier of passers. Denver added him with the No. 12 pick, though, making him the sixth QB to hear his name called. The Broncos had Nix positioned third on their board, per Troy Renck of the Denver Post. With every other Day 1 passer having previously come off the board, that internal ranking is of course a relatively moot point. Nix will nevertheless enter one of the more intriguing quarterback rooms in 2024.
One of the suitors left out in terms of QB pursuit was the Raiders, a team known to have been very high on Daniels in particular. Vegas’ decision-makers were of the opinion there was a “sizable gap” between the top tier of Caleb Williams, Daniels and Drake Maye and the other passers, however, as The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reports (subscription required). For that reason, Tafur notes it would have been unlikely the Raiders drafted Penix or Nix even if they were on the board with the 13th pick. In an case, the team added tight end Brock Bowers with its top selection as part of the unprecedented run on offensive players to begin the draft.

Broncos Draft QB Bo Nix With No. 12 Pick

April 25th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Ben Levine

A sixth QB has come off the board, and the Broncos are indeed among the teams which have added a new signal-caller. Denver has drafted Oregon passer Bo Nix.

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 had never taken a first-round QB in his long NFL career. The Broncos, however, emerged as the team most closely connected to the ex-Auburn recruit, being tied to him in early February. That turned out to be telling, as the Vikings traded up to No. 10 to ensure they landed the other QB the Broncos were closely tied to (J.J. McCarthy).

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. The organization held a private workout with the Oregon product the day before his pro day; that intel only came out this week. The night before that private workout, the Broncos sent the prospect “three packets of offensive play installation,” and Nix proceeded to “crush it,” according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. 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 did not 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.

There have now been six QBs selected within the first 12 picks. This matches the record-setting total that came off the board in the famous 1983 NFL Draft. The Broncos acquired a 16-year starter (via the Colts) in that draft, but while John Elway proved a revelation, the first-round arms Denver has chosen have not panned out since.

Tommy Maddox (1992), Jay Cutler (2006), Tim Tebow (2010) and Paxton Lynch (2016), did not become long-term QBs in Denver. The Broncos’ struggles post-Peyton Manning have been well documented, with Wilson being the most expensive failure. The Broncos will take on a record-setting $85MM in dead money ($53MM this year, which is a single-player record by itself) as a result of cutting Wilson. Nix will now come in as a cost-controlled option, one that could certainly define the Payton era in Denver.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Broncos Worked Out Bo Nix; Vikings In Play For Oregon QB?

April 25th, 2024 at 11:35am CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos have led the way when it comes to connections to Bo Nix, who is coming off a career that concluded with dominant numbers at Oregon and less impressive work at Auburn. Denver’s ties to Nix were not believed to have included a “30” visit, but a recent report provides more detail into the work Denver has done on the five-year college starter.

Sean Payton and Co. trekked to Eugene to work out the recent Ducks standout, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. This March 18 trip came just more than a week after a Zoom call between Nix and Broncos brass. These interactions could be important for Nix, whose draft stock may be the murkiest among the top quarterback options in this year’s class.

A report earlier this month suggested the Broncos not taking Nix at No. 12 could precede a Will Levis-like freefall that could end with the 24-year-old QB tumbling out of the first round. But Denver has been tied to Nix since early February. The recent Pac-12 star could become a safety play for the Broncos, who have been linked to bigger-game hunting.

A report last week suggested Payton is ready to make a big splash — in a deal that could involve the team trading future high picks and/or Patrick Surtain — and move up the board for a passer he covets. J.J. McCarthy is believed to be a Broncos target, and a Wednesday report indicated other teams do indeed believe the Broncos could stomach parting with Surtain — and potentially other veterans on expiring contracts — if the prize is a quarterback near the top of the draft. These rumors suddenly make this one of the most important drafts in modern Broncos history.

The Broncos might not need to use No. 12 on Nix, potentially being able to trade down — which would help a team that gave up its 2024 second-rounder to obtain Payton’s rights from the Saints last year — and still acquire him. This would mean standing down on McCarthy or Drake Maye but would ensure Surtain stays a Bronco. The All-Pro corner now has two years remaining on his rookie contract, thanks to the Broncos picking up his fifth-year option; extension talks are tentatively expected to begin post-draft. That is, of course, if Surtain remains on Denver’s roster after tonight.

Breer’s mock draft does not send Nix to Denver, rather slotting tight end Brock Bowers at No. 12, though Peter Schrager’s final NFL.com offering this year does. Denver may not be the only potential landing spot. Nix visited the Giants (No. 6), Raiders (No. 13) and Seahawks (No. 16) and worked out for the Vikings (No. 11). While Minnesota has been perhaps the most consistently rumored team to trade into the top five for a passer, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson points to a scenario in which the Vikings stand down and wait — with Nix as a target.

If the Patriots draft Maye at No. 3 — as they are likely to do, barring a monster trade offer — a source informed Robinson the Vikings would be comfortable staying at No. 11 and selecting Nix. That range is viewed as high for Nix, whom some teams have graded as a second-round talent, but QB needs annually drive up the values of passing prospects. The Vikings also have a strong receiving corps that would help a player like Nix.

The Vikings, whom Schrager has trading up (via the Titans at No. 7) for McCarthy, being in play for Nix could produce a scenario in which the Broncos miss out on both the Michigan and Oregon arms. This may well hinge on the Giants’ interest in McCarthy, which is either waning or being covered up in a smokescreen effort.

If the Giants do not take a quarterback and the Vikings are comfortable waiting, McCarthy or Nix would stand to be available for the Broncos — that is, unless the Raiders or a sleeper team leapfrogs them. Teams are doubting Las Vegas will pull the trigger on such a move if Jayden Daniels is not the target. A Daniels-Antonio Pierce reunion is viewed as highly unlikely, with the 2023 Heisman winner on track to go to Washington.

Denver has Jarrett Stidham and Monday trade pickup Zach Wilson on the roster, but this depth chart would not generate much optimism ahead of Payton’s second Denver season. It is also not expected to impede a Broncos quest to add a long-term option tonight. Which QB will the team end up with to replace Russell Wilson?

Broncos Viewed As Unlikely To Stay At No. 12; Latest On Team’s QB Interest

April 23rd, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trade acquisition Zach Wilson gives the Broncos another option at quarterback, but his wildly disappointing Jets tenure would stand to make it difficult to believe the AFC West team will head into OTAs with just he and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback.

While Denver has been tied to eyeing a move up the board, increased rumblings about the team trading down have surfaced. The Broncos have made calls about moving down the board, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, and teams are viewing the Sean Payton–George Paton operation as unlikely to stay at No. 12.

Broncos discussions about moving down have indeed occurred, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, though multiple teams in the top 10 have also heard from them about moving up. The Patriots and Cardinals have received offers about their top-four picks, and while it is unknown which teams have submitted those proposals, it is not farfetched to guess the Broncos are among the interested parties.

A move down the board — a rumored scenario earlier this month — would add to Denver’s arsenal, which current lacks a second-round pick due to last year’s swap with the Saints for Payton’s rights. It is also possible the Broncos could end up with a potential starting QB if they traded down. Bo Nix-to-Denver connections are still circulating on draft week, Jones adds. Our Ely Allen wrapped up his Prospect Profile series with Nix, a QB with gaudy stats (while at Oregon, that is) but questions about his long-term outlook. Some teams view the former Auburn recruit as a Day 2 pick, and he has commonly checked in as this draft’s sixth-best QB prospect. But the Broncos have been the team coming up most frequently in connection with Nix. A February report tied Denver to both he and J.J. McCarthy, and connections have persisted.

It would be a daring move from the Broncos to pass on this year’s QB crop and pit Stidham against Wilson for the starting job. This setup would certainly generate skepticism about their contention hopes, but with the larger chunk of Russell Wilson‘s dead money on Denver’s cap sheet this year ($50MM-plus), it is not inconceivable a reset season is coming. That said, it would be a bit surprising to see a 60-year-old Payton sign off on this — perhaps with a plan to target a 2025 QB draftee — for a full season. This type of plan backfired in his 2021 Saints finale.

On that note, the player the Broncos have been trying for eight years to replace shed some light about his former team’s interests. Peyton Manning confirmed during a 104.3 The Fan appearance the Broncos are “very interested” in McCarthy.

This follows a report suggesting Payton is open to mortgaging the team’s future to land his desired QB this year. While Drake Maye could now have a lead on McCarthy with the Vikings and Giants, the Broncos are believed to like the Michigan product. If Maye goes to the Patriots at No. 3, we will find out which teams truly like McCarthy. Minnesota and New York standing down would clear a path for Denver, which could then target Arizona’s No. 4 pick.

It would take plenty of capital to go from No. 12 to No. 4. The Broncos picked up Patrick Surtain‘s fifth-year option Tuesday and are rumored to be preparing extension talks after the draft, but the All-Pro cornerback’s name has come up as a chip to help the Broncos move up for a quarterback. The Broncos trading their top player would be a risky move, but the team has certainly been without an upper-crust answer at the game’s marquee position for a while. How the Broncos go about filling this need — if they end up doing so — will be one of the draft’s top storylines.

Prospect Profile: Bo Nix

April 22nd, 2024 at 10:55pm CST by Ely Allen

Quarterback has been a position of significant intrigue ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The least intriguing piece is USC’s Caleb Williams, who has been slotted into the No. 1 overall pick pretty much since the end of the 2023 NFL Draft. For several weeks now, a prediction that three other quarterbacks (LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy) are expected to occupy the three picks immediately following the presumed selection of Williams, in some order. After those four, only two other names have been mentioned as potential first round passers: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. (who received a Prospect Profile a month ago) and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix started off his high school career at Scottsboro School (Alabama) before following his father, former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, who had just been hired as the head coach at Pinson Valley HS (Alabama) closer to Birmingham. A fractured left ankle kept the younger Nix from thriving in his first year at the new school, but he made a return in time to lead Pinson Valley to a state championship title. He absolutely dominated his senior year, leading his school to their second straight state title and getting ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s 62nd best overall recruit and second-best dual-threat quarterback behind Daniels. Other recruiting services had him as a five-star quarterback and the top dual-threat passer in the nation.

Sitting smack dab between Alabama and Auburn, Nix was recruited heavily by both programs. It did not take much to persuade Nix, though, as he committed to his father’s alma mater before his senior season even began, never wavering from following in his father’s footsteps. Nix enrolled early for the Tigers and quickly beat out Joey Gatewood and Malik Willis for the starting job as a true freshman. Despite early growing pains, namely his 57.6 completion percentage, Nix shined in his first year leading the team, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. While Nix displayed some ups and downs over the next two years, his numbers continued to improve despite having three different offensive coordinators. The team success did not improve, though, as the Tigers went 12-9 with Nix starting in those two years.

After a broken ankle ended his 2021 season, Nix let it be known that he was miserable under new head coach Bryan Harsin, who didn’t coach in 2023 after being fired part-way through the 2022 season, and entered the transfer portal. Nix committed to Oregon, reuniting with Kenny Dillingham, who had been his offensive coordinator during his freshman year at Auburn. Thanks to COVID-19, Nix now had six years to play five seasons, meaning he had two years of eligibility remaining with the Ducks.

Nix exploded in his first season at a new school. For the first time in his collegiate career, Nix eclipsed a 70 completion percentage (71.9), 3,000 passing yards (3,593), 20 passing touchdowns (29), 500 rushing yards (510), and 10 rushing touchdowns (14). He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection as he set the school record for highest completion percentage at a school that produced such quarterbacks as Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert. His senior year saw him take off even more, beating his prior year passing numbers with a new record-77.4 completion percentage, 4,508 passing yards, and 45 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

If stats were the sole determining factor for who would go No. 1 overall in the NFL draft, Nix would be the unanimous selection. In 2023, Nix’s 77.4 completion percentage led all of college football. It wasn’t just a school record, it broke Mac Jones‘ FBS record for single-season completion percentage. Nix was second in the FBS in passing yards only behind Penix (4,903) last season. He let the nation in passing touchdowns, and while some full-season starters like Florida State’s Jordan Travis and Penn State’s Drew Allar had few interceptions (2), neither were producing near the yardage and touchdowns of Nix. But scouts and coaches focus on much more than numbers when it comes to the draft.

Physically, Nix is not the prototype for a quarterback, but his body type works for the game he plays. While Nix set records with his arm this year, he still projects best as dual-threat passer. Some of his best throws come on the run and without his feet set, and he uses strong footwork to avoid tacklers in a collapsing pocket. He benefited from most of his production coming off quick, one-look passes, but those plays fit his quick release and strong arm.

Nix still showed the ability to throw all over the field and was productive using play fakes to open routes up down the field. He is a strong runner and, though he did sustain a pair of ankle injuries through high school and college, any questions of his toughness were put to rest when he broke Colt McCoy and Kellen Moore‘s NCAA records for most starts in a career for a quarterback with 61.

So, why isn’t Nix going No. 1 overall? Mainly, quarterbacks with Nix’s style of play have not generally fared well in the NFL. They have not fared poorly (see Mariota, Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor), but they never really stick out around the league’s best. Coaches have nitpicked a lack of patience that does not allow routes to develop and open up. Nix also can rely on his great arm strength as a catch-all, affecting his accuracy and forcing his receivers to make some uncomfortable grabs. Teams also will not like that he is 24 years old entering the NFL draft. It’s not quite on the level of Brandon Weeden (the NFL’s oldest-ever first-round pick at 28 years old), but he’s already the same age as Trevor Lawrence.

Nix presents a mixed bag coming into the draft. He provided outstanding production through the air and on the ground at the collegiate level. Though his style of play isn’t tailormade for the NFL, Nix has proven to be very coachable. After three different coordinators in his first three seasons and a change of schools, Nix continued to improve year after year, going from a 57.6 completion percentage as a freshman to the FBS record-holder in the stat. He has been lauded for his academics and leadership with his coaches calling him “another coach” on the field, and he only got better each year.

There is plenty to suggest that Nix could struggle to be elite at the next level, but with his tools and drive, it’s hard to imagine that he won’t get a chance as a starter at some point.

Now, where does a player like that go in the draft? Most see Nix as a likely Day 2 pick, though an early run of quarterbacks could force a team’s hand if they truly want Nix, and there isn’t an absence of teams who do. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, there is an assumption in league circles that, if Nix goes in the first round, it will be to the Broncos. While some speculate that Denver could trade up to select McCarthy, many like Nix better as a stylistic fit with head coach Sean Payton. The Broncos do not have a second-round pick, so they may opt to trade back from No. 12, collect more draft capital, and draft Nix to compete with the newly acquired Zach Wilson.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter warns not to dismiss the Rams, either. Schefter points to general manager Les Snead, who was a graduate assistant coach at Auburn in 1993, when Nix’s father, Patrick, was the Tigers’ quarterback. With some speculation that Penix could be the fifth passer coming off the board as high as No. 8 overall, do not rule out Los Angeles taking Matthew Stafford‘s heir apparent at No. 19.

The speculation does not stop there. With mere days remaining until the draft begins, there is no shortage of possibilities for how the event may play out. Nix could join the others in the first round, or he could freefall into the middle of the draft. Regardless, some NFL team should be adding a coachable, fast-learning competitor later this week.

Giants Could Wait For QB In Draft

April 22nd, 2024 at 3:02pm CST by Ely Allen

APRIL 22: Adding to the idea New York could pass on a first-round signal-caller, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post notes the Giants could be prepared to move down if J.J. McCarthy were the top passer still on the board at No. 6. That could result in a trade-down maneuver and leave the team in range for one of the second-tier QBs. Dunleavy adds that a factor which could alter that approach is the possibility of acquiring Maye, which falls in line with the Meirov report.

APRIL 21: Ever since Daniel Jones tore his ACL last season, putting to rest any chances of rebounding from an abysmal start to lead his team to the playoffs for the second year in a row, there has been constant chatter in New York about committing a first-round draft pick to the quarterback position. According to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team, the Giants may not be all-in on using their current top pick, No. 6 overall, to draft a passer.

The Giants rewarded Jones’ playoff season, in which he led the league in fewest interceptions per pass attempt, with a four-year, $160MM contract. His first year under the new deal obviously did not go according to plan, but New York has claimed on multiple occasions that it does not regret committing to Jones and isn’t quite ready to give up on him. Still, they let it be known that they had plans to add a quarterback in the future; Jones’ injury history necessitated it.

Now, they actually have to address how that will work. Most projections for how the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft will play out see a run of four quarterbacks opening the night. While that’s not guaranteed, if it occurs, the Giants would likely not see any of the quarterbacks they want fall back to them. That hasn’t stopped many mock drafts from predicting a quarterback to New York via a trade up into the Cardinals’ No. 4 overall slot.

Meirov tells us that league rumors state that North Carolina passer Drake Maye is the only one of the passers not named “Caleb Williams” that the Giants would consider going after if he started to slip. It’s expecting quite a bit to think that Maye could find his way down to the sixth pick, but this could be insinuating that New York would trade up to the fourth pick if the Commanders and Patriots both pass on Maye.

If not, though, Meirov believes that they could address another position, like offensive tackle or wide receiver, at No. 6 overall then wait until the second round to select a quarterback. It depends how things play out, but both Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix were thought of as Day 2 picks at some point. The run of passers at the top of the draft may mean that Penix and Nix hear their names a little earlier than their value (for instance, the Raiders have constantly been connected to Penix at No. 13 overall), but should either quarterback slip back into the second round, consider them top targets for the Giants.

If they particularly like Penix or Nix and see them starting to slip in the first round, they may decide to trade back into the first round, or they could leverage their No. 6 overall pick to trade back and collect more picks without addressing the offensive line or receiving corps then pick one of the two passers. If they miss out on both Penix and Nix they may have to reach (or trade back a little in the second round) for South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, widely thought to have a third-round value or later.

Regardless, the Giants have lots of options. They remain committed to Jones but still feel the need to add a rookie to the room. Just how they decide to go about adding that rookie could say a lot about how they feel about Jones heading into 2024.

Broncos HC Sean Payton Prepared To “Mortgage Future” To Trade Up For QB?

April 21st, 2024 at 10:26pm CST by Rory Parks

Broncos GM George Paton recently conceded that he would be prepared to part with future first-round draft picks to trade up from the No. 12 overall selection in this year’s draft if such a move allows him to select a franchise quarterback. We have also heard that while head coach Sean Payton is naturally interested in a trade-up for a QB, the club may ultimately choose to trade down to accumulate more assets; after all, thanks to the trades bringing Russell Wilson and Payton to Denver, the Broncos have not made a first-round selection since 2021 and do not have a second-round choice this year.

Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, however, hears that Payton is not merely willing to contemplate a move up the board. The former Super Bowl-winning HC — who narrowly missed out on drafting Patrick Mahomes in 2017 when the Chiefs moved up 17 spots to leapfrog the Payton-led Saints to land the future star — is reportedly prepared to “mortgage the franchise’s future” to acquire one of the top passer prospects in the 2024 class.

The near miss on Mahomes has, according to Pauline’s sources, left a sour taste in Payton’s mouth, and he is looking to right past wrongs. Given that the teams holding the top three selections in this year’s draft have the need to add blue chip signal-callers of their own, the Cardinals’ No. 4 overall choice is perhaps the highest pick the Broncos could theoretically acquire. Arizona is certainly open for business, but it is unclear just how far down the board the team would be willing to go, and the same can be said of the Chargers, who hold the No. 5 pick and who may not want to give a division rival the opportunity to draft a franchise QB.

It is certainly possible that Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye will be taken with the first three picks of the draft and will therefore be unavailable for the Broncos. Per Pauline, that would suit Payton just fine, as he is said to have his eyes set on Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy’s blend of intelligence and ability to get the ball out of his hands quickly is particularly appealing to Payton, perhaps because it reminds him so much of longtime charge Drew Brees.

Of course, this is hardly the first time that the Broncos have been rumored to be interested in trading up for a quarterback. All of the earlier reports to that effect have noted how costly such an endeavor would be, and Pauline acknowledges that Denver’s package would need to include at least one future first-rounder, the No. 12 pick this year, and cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Pauline himself said back in February that the heavy cost of jumping up the draft board would likely preclude the Broncos from doing so, and that the team would only deal Surtain as a last resort.

It seems that much has changed in the past couple of months, with Payton now prepared to do whatever it takes to nab a prospect like McCarthy. We learned just last week that the Broncos may be more receptive to the notion of trading Surtain than they were at last season’s trade deadline, and Pauline’s report is consistent with that line of thinking.

If Denver is ultimately unable to jump up the board, Payton & Co. would content themselves with Oregon’s Bo Nix as Plan B. A recent projection suggested that the Ravens, who hold the No. 30 overall pick, may be willing to deal that selection to the Broncos, who would use it to select Nix. A subsequent report indicated that Baltimore is not, in fact, looking to move out of the first round, though the right offer can of course change draft plans in a hurry.

Only a small percentage of Pauline’s sources believe the Broncos would select Nix with their No. 12 choice. That stands to reason in light of a recent report from Ari Meirov of The33rdTeam.com, who hears from league executives that Nix is more of a Day 2 prospect.

Giants Meet With Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler

April 17th, 2024 at 9:15am CST by Sam Robinson

While consistent rumors have connected the Giants to trading up from No. 6 for a quarterback, other teams outside the top three will be interested in doing so as well. This could lead to the Giants going elsewhere at 6 and still eyeing a QB investment later in the draft.

On this note, two quarterbacks that are not viewed as in play to go in the top 10 met with the team this week. Oregon’s Bo Nix and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler stopped through New York for “30” visits, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.

Nix’s itinerary has featured a few meetings already — with the Raiders, Seahawks and Vikings — and Broncos connections have persisted. A rumor about the Giants circling back to Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. emerged recently, however, even as the Giants have done continued work on this draft’s top QB tier (non-Caleb Williams division).

As we covered in the most recent Trade Rumors Front Office installment, the Giants face a big-picture decision centering on whether they can go into another season with Daniel Jones as the unchallenged starter or if this No. 6 pick needs to be used to acquire a replacement. The Giants also have failed in their attempts to give Jones an upper-crust wide receiver.

Considering the QB needs that will be filled to start the draft, the Giants are guaranteed to have one of this draft’s receiver top tier available to them if they stay at 6. The receiver route would leave Big Blue’s QB position with an uncertain future, but the team can also attempt to move back up for a Nix-type prospect.

The Giants have met with Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy. A reality in which each of these passers is unavailable — due to the Cardinals perhaps accepting another team’s trade offer to climb to No. 4 — is not difficult to envision. While the Giants have been mocked recently to be the team that trades up to No. 4, the Vikings, Broncos and Raiders also loom as contenders. Minnesota acquiring a second first-round pick makes the NFC North team the logical top threat to a Giants path up the board.

Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board slots Nix and Rattler, respectively, as the draft’s sixth- and seventh-ranked QB prospects. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com offering places Nix 29th overall, with Rattler not in the top 50. A recent rumor suggested the Broncos not nabbing Nix could induce a Will Levis-like slide down the draft board. This would benefit the Giants, who do not pick again until No. 47. The team traded No. 39 to the Panthers for Brian Burns. The team holds one third-round pick as well. Dane Brugler’s mock draft for The Athletic has Nix remaining on the board until No. 52 (Rams) and Rattler going to the Broncos in Round 3.

Like Nix, Rattler transferred after three seasons (at Oklahoma). Unlike the eventual Pac-12 standout, Rattler did not post elite numbers at his second school. Rattler’s best season came back with Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma in 2020. Not eclipsing 20 touchdown passes in either of his two Gamecocks seasons, Rattler did complete a program-record 67.5% of his passes last season. Scouts mentioned Levis and Sam Howell as potential comps for Rattler.

QB Prospect Notes: Williams, Patriots, Commanders, Giants

April 16th, 2024 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Caleb Williams is still expected to hear his name called first during next week’s draft, but the USC quarterback didn’t make the best impression on teams during the pre-draft process. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Williams’ interviews with teams were described as “good, not great” and “just OK.”

As Fowler notes, Williams declined medical exams and only did a handful of interviews, where he didn’t show the same poise and preparation as his fellow QB prospects. Naturally, some teams assumed this was a “byproduct of being a player who knows he’s going No. 1.” While Williams’ pre-draft strategy wasn’t considered a personality red flag by scouts, one AFC executive believes Williams left the door open for the Bears to pivot.

“I don’t think he’s had a great spring,” the executive told Fowler. “He’s still going first. That’s pretty much a done deal. But while he was a no-brainer three months ago, there’s at least a conversation now. Even still, I think he’s a smart kid, a good kid. He just knows where he’s going.”

Perhaps partly due to Williams’ offseason showing, there are some coaches who have actually graded LSU’s Jayden Daniels over the USC QB, per Adam Caplan of ProFootballNetwork.com. Of course, the only opinion that matters belongs to the Bears, but this recent grading adjustment at least leads Caplan to surmise that Daniels will be selected ahead of North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

While Maye is an underdog to be selected in the top-two, it’s no longer a guarantee that he’s even chosen with the third-overall pick. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, there’s a “healthy debate” in New England between Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. While there’s still a chance the Patriots trade out of the No. 3 spot in pursuit of future picks, Breer believes owner Robert Kraft “views this as a rare chance to get a quarterback at this level.” The organization has certainly made it clear they’re eyeing all of the top-tier prospects, as the Patriots have met with Daniels, Maye, and McCarthy.

Washington is currently sitting with the second-overall pick, and they’ve been equally active in scouting QB prospects. Interestingly, the team will be hosting all of Daniels, Maye, McCarthy, and Washington’s Michael Penix for their top-30 visits at the same time, per Breer. This stems from GM Adam Peters‘ experience from San Francisco, where the 49ers would bring in groupings of prospects to see how they interact with peers.

With the Cardinals and Chargers likely out of the running for a top QB prospect, the Giants are next in line at the position behind Chicago, Washington, and New England. There’s been recent buzz that the Giants could look to move up (per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post) or even move back (per Fowler, via WBG84), but either way, it’s pretty clear the organization is targeting a signal-caller.

Dan Duggan of The Athletic believes the Giants are high enough on Maye that they’d swing a trade up the draft board. The writer also believes the organization isn’t enamored with McCarthy, perhaps necessitating a trade back if the Michigan QB is there at No. 6. If the Giants do end up trading back, Duggan could see a scenario where the team is actively pursuing Penix or Oregon’s Bo Nix in the back half of the first round.

Latest On Broncos’ First-Round Plans

April 12th, 2024 at 11:04am CST by Sam Robinson

Holding a first-round pick for the first time since they chose Patrick Surtain in 2021, the Broncos obviously enter this draft with a major need at quarterback after releasing Russell Wilson. But they are not flush with ammo to move up to acquire a top QB prospect.

Denver’s 2023 trade for Sean Payton‘s rights cost a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second. The Broncos already traded the third-rounder they acquired for Payton to move up for cornerback Riley Moss last year. Denver does hold another third-rounder but is certainly outflanked by Minnesota (two first-round picks) regarding assets to trade for a top-four draft slot. J.J. McCarthy‘s pre-draft rise certainly could make a top-four pick necessary to acquire one of this draft’s top four QBs.

Despite this, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes Payton has “desperately” wanted to move up for a passer. We heard that was the case in February, and the second-year Denver HC is open to a move up the board. But reporting around the Senior Bowl indicated the steep cost would likely steer the Broncos away from yet another trade involving a first-round pick. As it stands now, the Broncos should be considered more likely to trade down than trade up from No. 12 overall, ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold writes.

The Broncos’ lack of first-round picks over the past two years has certainly impacted the roster. With Jerry Jeudy being traded to the Browns, only two homegrown first-rounders (Surtain, Garett Bolles) are on Denver’s roster. The team has traded three homegrown first-rounders (Noah Fant, Bradley Chubb, Jeudy) since the 2022 deadline. While the Broncos’ QB depth chart may be the NFL’s worst (of the teams not in position to land a passer atop this draft), they could attempt a move down the board to add draft capital while picking up a passer later in Round 1.

Bo Nix and the Broncos have been tied together for several weeks, due partially to the team’s draft slot. Though, no news of a Broncos-Nix “30” visit has emerged. Nix has met with the Raiders and Seahawks and scheduled a Vikings workout. Setting the record for Division I-FBS starts by a quarterback (61), the former Oregon and Auburn arm posted big numbers with the Ducks over the past two seasons. Last year, he closed with a 45-3 TD-INT ratio with the Pac-12 program. This came in a QB-friendly system, one that has generated questions about the Auburn recruit’s ability to function at a high level in an NFL offense.

Nix is 29th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, and ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him falling out of Round 1. If Nix falls past the Broncos at No. 12, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy writes he could experience a Will Levis-like draft slide. Levis tumbled to No. 33 last year.

Still planning to add a veteran to a depth chart that currently houses Jarrett Stidham as the starter, the Broncos’ need here is no secret. While offseason reports have indicated the Broncos would be OK going into the season with Stidham as the starter, an AFC exec told ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid in the above-reference piece there is “no way” heads into the season with the QB room the team currently possesses.

With the Raiders joining the Vikings as a team that will be eyeing QBs, the Broncos have a complex mission. It would indeed be unusual if Payton, who turned 60 earlier this year, agreed to effectively stand down at quarterback this year and go through a stopgap season with Stidham. But the team did not add one of the bridge-type arms in free agency. Though, Ryan Tannehill remains available.

Payton’s 2021 season featured four starters — due to Jameis Winston going down with an ACL tear — and led to a steep quality drop from the Drew Brees era. After making it clear he was not happy with where Wilson was late last season, Payton and GM George Paton will likely attempt to upgrade in the draft. The Broncos will be a team to monitor as the draft moves past its Caleb Williams stage.

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