The 2024 NFL Draft is here, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Bo Nix.
What stands out the more you watch Nix is there is a decisiveness and efficiency to his game. He is a ball distributor in a well-designed and well-schemed passing game, but he also gives you a second reaction playmaking dimension.
His 2023 tape showed meaningful improvement in some of the issues that showed up on his 2022 tape, particularly the speed with which he processed and delivered the football with timing and precise ball placement. That really stood out when throwing into tight zone window. Nix walked a fine line between playing from the pocket, allowing the pass game to work for him, and leaving the pocket prematurely. Although, he made throws outside the pocket when he did that.
Nix is a comfortable player executing the pass game, and he was an easy thrower, making the right kind of throw to the right receiver at the right time despite not having a power arm. His arm strength could be an issue for some evaluators, given that Nix cannot really drive the ball with velocity. The question/discussion is how much of a factor is that in the overall transition and projection to the NFL?
I could see a coach like Sean Payton believing Nix could run his offense effectively with the timing and rhythm element that is foundational, making power arm strength not a prerequisite.
Nix played two years at Oregon after spending three years at Auburn as the starting QB (34 SEC starts). he finished his college career with 60 starts (most in NCAA history). Nix stayed in-state to play at Auburn as Alabama’s Mr. Football and one of the highest rated QB recruits in the nation before his graduate transfer to Oregon. In 2023, Nix was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year
In 2022, Nix ran a highly schemed well-defined passing game that presented clean reads based on play design and route concepts. Empty formations were a featured part of the Oregon pass game. In 2022, Nix was outstanding on first down play action: 54-68, 9.91 yards per attempt, six touchdowns with one interception (all but five dropbacks came out of the shotgun).
In 2023, you again saw NFL route concepts with reading progressions that Nix is now familiar with and has a solid understanding of (bunch, flood concepts, hi-low concepts, snag-flat, high red zone dino, 4 strong, back shoulder throws).
Nix a lot of experience in his two seasons at Oregon working out of empty formations, and he has been highly efficient. Terrance Ferguson's 15 yard TD vs. USC was a big-time throw by Nix. Troy Franklin's 20 yards vs. Arizona State was an outstanding tight zone window throw with high-level coverage recognition and anticipation and precise ball placement.
Tez Johnson's 32 yards vs. Oregon State was another outstanding tight zone window throw with high-level nticipation and precise ball placement. This time, he showed subtle pocket movement to slide away from front-side pressure.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!