Would Oregon QB Bo Nix Be a Giants Fit?
If the New York Giants are realistic about their odds of landing a quarterback in this draft class, a name to watch is Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
Compared to the three quarterbacks deemed at the top of the prospect group—Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye—Nix could slide to the end of the first round or even into the second. But would he be a fit for what the Giants run?
That's where the debate lies, but LockedOn Ducks podcast host Spencer McLaughlin, appearing on the Locked On Giants podcast, believes that Nix could make a go with it as a member of the Giants.
“I think he could come in and push Daniel Jones to be the starting quarterback,” McLaughlin said. “Because if you're looking at Daniel Jones, what do you need from him right now? You need him to play at his best. Well, what's going to motivate him to play at his best?
"What's going to set a fire under his rear end to kick him into high gear and make him put in all the work that he needs to do and then show up on Sundays and perform at a high-level week in, week out, least his job be in jeopardy? It'd be a draft pick who everyone will start chirping about to say, 'Well, hey, that guy could start.'”
Nix’s collegiate journey started at Auburn, where he was the face of the offense for three seasons and boasted a strong ability to make plays happen. However, he could not perform consistently as a passer without a strong supporting cast, forcing him to seek refuge with the Ducks in 2022 to find that offensive crew.
Backed by a solid coaching staff and elite playmakers at the skilled positions, Nix fulfilled his potential as one of college football's most consistent and deadly accurate quarterbacks. He completed 71.9% of his passes for 3,593 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2022 and then beat those numbers by a wide margin in the 2023 season to post a Heisman Trophy runner-up campaign.
His combination of those two intangibles at the forefront allowed the senior to thrive despite an offensive coordinator and scheme change into the RPO-style offense in between his two seasons with Oregon.
“He just became this guy who was so adept at reading defenses, who was so good at delivering the ball where it needed to be when it needed to be there,” McLaughlin said. “He just had the most accurate season in college football history.
“You know, as a player, his accuracy, consistency, and poise, and then he's got a really good arm, and he's got great mobility and good size. So, you know, he checks a lot of boxes. But I think the biggest thing you can expect from him is he will be the same guy if you give him the right support system.”
While the experts view Nix as a quarterback with excellent post-snap processing that came from playing in a tougher conference like the Pac-12 and will benefit him immensely in the NFL or potentially with the Giants, the one area of development left is his willingness to stand in the pocket and give plays a chance to develop. Nix can make deep throws from anywhere on the field, but sometimes he abandons the 50-50 shots too early in exchange for earning small yardage on the easier check-downs.
McLaughlin noted that Nix knows well and clear when to not place the football in a way that is going to harm the offense and his team’s success, but it comes down to being more confident, trusting the play design, and letting it develop, and letting it fly if the defense is giving up the potential for a deep play.
“Sometimes I think a willingness to not just throw the ball down the field or rely on your arm and trust your teammates to make a play is good. But I do think he can carry that too far sometimes.”
But is he a fit for what the Giants run? That's where opinions vary. Nix has played a lot of football, yet his processing is still a question mark, considering the Ducks offense didn't ask much of him in that regard, favoring screens, RPOs, and simple vertical concepts. And his footwork needs to be cleaned up to eliminate extraneous steps.
If Nix is there late in the first round--he'd be a reach at No. 6, where the Giants currently are slated to draft in the first round--would New York, who has so many needs, consider trading back into the bottom of the first round to get him? Probably not, but as a potential second-round pick, perhaps they'd give him more consideration.
Be sure to check out the full LockedOn Giants podcast featuring the entire interview with Spencer McLaughlin for more on Bo Nix, including his intangibles, leadership qualities, readiness for the NFL level, and more.
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