Bo Nix vs. Spencer Rattler: Identifying Broncos' Best QB Fit
With the Denver Broncos moving on from Russell Wilson, they're now looking for their next quarterback. The Broncos have been linked to multiple free agents and almost every quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft class.
Oregon's Bo Nix and South Carolina's Spencer Rattler are two such quarterbacks in the draft. Does either make sense for the Broncos? Is one a better fit for Sean Payton's offense?
Let's dive into their respective scouting reports to find the answer.
Bo Nix | Oregon
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 214 pounds
- Arm Length: 31-7/8 inches
- Hands: 10-1/8 inches
- Relative Athletic Score: N/A
Pros
Nix is entering the NFL with rare experience, with 61 starts under his belt. His college career started rough at Auburn, but after transferring to Oregon, he showed significant improvement, making himself the prospect he's become.
There is much to like about Nix's pre- and post-snap reads and how quickly he goes through them. While he didn't have to make a lot of difficult reads often at Oregon, when he did, it was impressive. He also plays with a good internal clock to either get the ball out on time or extend plays to limit the pressure he faces.
Nix has good velocity on shorter throws and works well in the middle of the field. He has good athleticism, which was utilized more at Auburn than at Oregon, but it's still on tape.
Nix's production was great, and he took care of the ball during his time at Oregon, throwing 74 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He has only had 26 career interceptions over five seasons as a starter.
Cons
There are questions about Nix's arm strength when working 10-plus yards down the field. Over his two years at Oregon, 70% of his passes were thrown behind the line of scrimmage to 10 yards downfield, and he completed 83% of those attempts.
On the 30% of Nix's throws beyond the 10-yard mark, he completed 61% of those passes. The velocity isn't consistently there on those deep shots.
Nix also benefited from being on the offensive line, where he was pressured on 16% of dropbacks over the last two years, the lowest among QBs in the 2024 draft class. Along with the offensive line, there's a question about the overall talent Nix played with at Oregon regarding weapons and how much he elevated them versus how much the weapons made him look better.
The Oregon offense is quarterback-friendly, with high-percentage throws and easy reads for the quarterback. On the deep shots, Nix has inconsistent placement, and his throws don't have enough arc, making it difficult for the receiver to adjust to the passes. Nix also makes extra effort to hit those throws.
Fit With Broncos
Nix has enough with the short and intermediate throws to be a solid fit for the offense that Payton wants to run. While Nix has questions about his overall arm talent, he can take those deep shots as long as they're not a large part of the offense. His quick processing is also a trait Payton is looking for.
Big Board Position: No. 42 overall.
Spencer Rattler | South Carolina
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
- Height: 6-foot
- Weight: 211 pounds
- Arm Length: 31 inches
- Hands: 9-7/8 inches
- Relative Athletic Score: 4.13
Pros
When it comes to making all the throws, Rattler has NFL-caliber arm talent. He excels at hitting every level of the field with good consistency.
Despite dealing with a consistently beat-up and poor-performing offensive line, where Rattler was pressured on 34% of his dropbacks the last two years, he showed growth as a player after transferring from Oklahoma.
While Rattler threw 12 interceptions in 2022, he cut it to eight in 2023 while throwing only one less pass, but it's more than that. He went from having 22 turnover-worthy plays to 11. The improvements in his decision-making are a big reason he improved his draft stock throughout the season.
When Rattler could be patient and trust in the O-line, he went through his reads with good pacing. He can be relied on regarding RPOs with how quickly he works them. While he isn't the most athletic or a threat to run, there is enough juice to pick up first downs with his legs when needed.
Cons
South Carolina's offensive line issues muddied Rattler's tape, making him more challenging to evaluate. As the game progresses, you can see problems with some panic reads and throws as he takes more and more hits. He also tested out much worse athletically than expected, though he was never considered a great athlete.
Rattler can have some difficulty hitting on timing and rhythm routes. He also has a bad habit of muscling throws in when touch is needed. His ball placement wanes when working over the middle of the field, and he will often put the ball behind the receiver.
Rattler has a bad habit of over-reliance on his top receiver and will force throws even into tight coverage, especially when pressure is on him. His pocket presence is lacking, and he sometimes puts pressure on himself with his movements.
Much has been made about Rattler's maturity due to his appearance on the Netflix show QB1 when he was 17 years old. While it's still a concern, he has been praised for his growth, maturity, and even humility.
Fit With Broncos
While the Broncos' offensive line isn't perfect, it can provide more protection for Rattler than he got in college. However, there is enough concern about the consistency of his reads, which could create some issues when paired with a coach like Payton.
Big Board Position: No. 72 overall.
Better Fit for Broncos
When comparing strictly these two quarterbacks, the better fit for Payton quickly emerges. Nix may not be the perfect pairing for Payton, and while the ubiquitous Drew Brees comparisons are misplaced, he can work well enough in the Broncos' system.
There are plenty of concerns with Rattler. His inconsistencies and reads over the middle of the field create unnecessary difficulties for an offense.
Rattler could be a sound fit for Denver's offense if Payton could develop the mental side of things even more. However, it would likely take Payton more time to accomplish that with Rattler than Nix.
The Broncos are looking for a more immediate successor to Wilson, and Nix is ready to start immediately. There are serious concerns about how well he could keep up with some of the AFC's offense, but he would provide Payton with a plug-and-play option out of the gates.
The immediacy of Nix versus the needed development of Rattler is why the Oregon quarterback stands out as the better option between the two.
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