Even before the Denver Broncos used a first-round draft pick to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix in April, pundits frequently compared Nix to Drew Brees and noted that Nix would be an ideal fit for Sean Payton.
Nix has been flattered by the comparisons to Brees, but he knows he still has to prove himself in the NFL. As for Brees, he recently chimed in with his take on Denver’s rookie quarterback.
“I’ve been really impressed with him,” Brees said in an interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG.org. “A few things that stick out to me – first off, the guy had 60 starts in college, 60 high-level starts at Auburn and Oregon. That’s significant. That is significant in a young quarterback’s growth and development.”
Brees believes Nix’s extensive college experience will help him quickly adapt to playing in the NFL.
“When you talk about young quarterbacks that are getting their opportunity to play in the NFL, I think you need at least 50 high-level starts,” Brees told Siddiqui. “Whether that comes in college or whether that comes to the NFL, what I’m saying is, if you draft a kid who only has had 20 college starts, but he’s this top prospect and he’s got unbelievable talent. That’s great, but chances are, he’s going on a team who has some holes to fill, right?
“There’s going to be a little bit of an uphill battle. There’s going to be struggles and the guy still needs about a season and a half or two before you’re really going to know what you have.”
After starting 61 games in college and now one game in the NFL, Brees believes Nix is ahead of the curve compared to typical rookie QBs.
After mixed results in Denver’s season opener last week, Nix will look to bounce back against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.
