Bo Nix should have the highest expectations for starting quarterbacks for one key reason

Denver Broncos fans are looking forward to a satisfying end to the season without Bo Nix winning Rookie of the Year honors.

Okay, okay, that’s not true. But there’s some truth to the idea that Nix should outdo his peers and provide immediate results for a Broncos team in need. Denver selected Nix 12th overall in April’s NFL Draft, a decision that many at the time disagreed with. Nix was widely considered a late first-round, early second-round pick with clear limitations. But given the quarterback premium, Nix became a natural target for the Broncos’ needy quarterbacks.

Nix has been a standout performer in the preseason, ultimately winning the QB1 job over veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Broncos head coach Sean Payton has done nothing but boost Nix, citing his poise and work ethic. Nix impressed Denver in pre-draft interviews with his football IQ and curious nature. He’s a quick study and is a typical, intelligent manager of the game under center.

Even though Nix was the sixth QB taken off the board in this year’s draft, his archetype and situation naturally raise expectations. He doesn’t have to win Rookie of the Year — there will certainly be plenty of competition for that award in the AFC — but Nix has to prove himself. While other candidates may inspire a patient, wait-and-see approach, Nix is ​​on an accelerated schedule.

Why? It’s simple. Because he’s the most experienced QB prospect in years.

Nix enters the NFL as a 24-year-old with five years of starting experience at the college level. Nix split his amateur career between Auburn and Oregon, becoming a Heisman candidate in his final campaign. As a fifth-year freshman, Nix completed 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns. He threw just three interceptions in 14 games.

Now, we can point out the flaws in Nix’s resume — that Oregon’s offense was Stat Pad Central — but the fact remains that he was an extremely productive fifth-year senior who started five seasons at the college level, which is almost unheard of.

Albert Breer from Illustrated Sports perfectly illustrates why Nix will face more pressure in the NFL than, say, Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.

“It’s important to note the gap in experience with rookie quarterbacks. With that in mind, consider this — when Michael Penix Jr. showed up for Indiana’s spring game in April 2018, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy were high school freshmen in D.C., Charlotte and Chicago. And when those three were college freshmen, Penix, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix were on the NFL’s second tier, looking for a fresh start, each in the process of transferring from one major conference program to another.”

Nix, for example, has twice as much experience (61 games, 61 starts) as Maye (30 games, 26 starts). That’s a huge understatement when evaluating a prospect’s potential, let alone his immediate threshold for success. Maye theoretically has three years and dozens of starts before he approaches Nix’s current level.

The NFL is a new challenge for every rookie. There’s a huge difference between being a quarterback at Oregon and being a quarterback with the Denver Broncos. Still, Nix won’t get back the last three years of “experience.” That’s in the bank. Maye has a lot more time for trial and error before his reputation crystallizes and his career becomes clear. We should know much sooner if Nix can make it in the NFL.

There was plenty to be excited about in Nix’s preseason performance. Reports from training camp have been universally glowing. None of that matters if Nix can’t handle the real game. Denver is entrusting its offense to Nix, one of three rookie QBs who have been named starters from the get-go. In theory, he should be the most prepared of the bunch.