Joel Klatt breaks down fit between Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Bo Nix was the last of six quarterbacks to be selected in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He might end up being one of the better fits, though, because of the specific offense for the Denver Broncos.

During his show on Monday, Joel Klatt dove deep into how Nix suits the Bronco’s offense under Sean Payton. He explained how Nix’s style, knowledge, and awareness, specifically from what he played the last two years at Oregon, fits what Denver does in its pass game and with their protections.

“He fits Sean Payton. When I say fits, let me just explain that briefly,” Klatt said. “Sean Payton’s offense relies on, generally speaking and kind of for the most part in the passing game, what I would call scat protection. When I say scat protection, that means five offensive lineman protecting and nobody check-releasing. So you have all five potential pass-catchers out immediately. They’ve got no responsibility in the pass protection and just the five up front protecting. They run that quite often. Well, Oregon ran that quite often.”

“Now why do you like that? Okay, why would that be your M.O., wouldn’t you want to protect the quarterback? Well, because you protect the quarterback through the quarterback’s intelligence and his ability to get the ball out quickly as a point guard,” noted Klatt. “It’s actually a better way to protect the quarterback sometimes than holding the sixth guy in protection, the seventh guy in protection, or even max-protecting, sitting in there with eight and trying to block everybody. Just let the quarterback protect himself – protect himself with his mind first and then his feet and his accuracy. Nix does that really well. Oregon does that really well.”

Efficiency is a major aspect of Nix’s game, especially with what he did with the Ducks. While in Eugene, Nix completed 74.9% of his throws, including at 77.4% in his last year, for 300 yards per game, 74 total touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions.

That kind of capability is what makes it, at least in comparison to other spots in the NFL, such a nice spot to slot in for Nix. It also is why, to Klatt, Denver’s last quarterback did not work out there in the end.

“Now, he can do other things. There’s no doubt. But that point guard style of play and cerebral approach to the game is why this is a fit,” said Klatt. “It’s why Russell Wilson was oil and water. Russell wants to hold the ball, throw it down the field. Max protect, big play-action – that’s not what Sean Payton wants to do.”

“Sean Payton wants to release everybody. And, regardless of pressure, you get that sixth blitzer? Boom! You replace them with the ball,” Klatt explained. “You have answers in the pass concept and not necessarily in the protection.”

Nix and Denver were long connected to one another in the draft process if for no other reason than that they suited one another. Now, with them together, Klatt sees that match working out, at least under the assumption that he has weapons to work with.

“That’s why Bo Nix fits the Denver Broncos,” said Klatt. “That’s why I think he can have a lot of success early, although that’s still a roster that’s going to need some pieces.”