Bo Nix is projected as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft by multiple draft analysts.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projects the former Oregon Ducks quarterback going to the Denver Broncos at No. 12. Sports Illustrated’s Nate Davis and collegesportswire.com’s Patrick Conn also project Nix to the Broncos. Nix to the Broncos at No. 12 is also the projection according to the NFL Mock Draft Data Base.
However, not everyone sees Nix as a lock for the first round. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine views Nix very differently and predicts he will fall into the second round.
Ballentine uses Will Levis as an example. Levis had quickly moved up in various mock drafts prior to the draft, with many predicting he would be selected early in the first round. He was a second-round pick (No. 33) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2023 draft.
Ballentine cites Nix’s age (24), decision-making issues when he played at Auburn and the scheme at Oregon may have masked his flaws.
“Nix is already 24 years old. By comparison, J.J. McCarthy is just 21. The age isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it does change expectations. With five years of starting at Auburn and Oregon, Nix should be a well-rounded prospect with few holes in his game.
“That’s not the case, though. Derrik Classen noted in his scouting report of Nix that he’s ‘still an incomplete player for someone who has played so much football, but his tools are undeniable.’ "
Nix’s decision-making at Auburn was a concern. He cleaned up a lot of that at Oregon and only threw three picks in his final season, but a lot of that was due to an offense that thrived on screens and RPOs.
“Nix makes a lot more sense as an early second-round target, and that’s where he will likely be drafted.”
The NFL draft is April 25-27.