Bo Nix needed just two preseason games to convince coach Sean Payton to hand the rookie quarterback the keys to the Denver Broncos’ offense for the beginning of the regular season.
With Payton announcing that Nix will start in Seattle on Sept. 8, the former Oregon quarterback’s odds of winning Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) continued to dwindle.
DraftKings initially offered Nix at a +1600 value to win the OROY award ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Broncos then selected Nix with the 12th overall pick, positioning him in a quarterback battle against Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Nix has outshone his veteran counterparts in the Broncos’ first two preseason games. After Denver’s emphatic 27-2 triumph against Green Bay last week, Nix’s odds to win the accolade dropped to +1100 at DraftKings and +1200 at BetMGM.
Payton officially named Nix his regular-season starter on Wednesday, and those odds further adjusted to +1000 and +900, respectively.
{{Nix trails only Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (+135), Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (+475) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (+650) on DraftKings}}
BetMGM listed the same four players, with Williams (+130) followed by Daniels (+500), Harrison Jr. (+750), and Nix. A sportsbook representative from Field Level Media confirmed Nix leads all rookies with 18.7% of the total bets and 19.9% of the money backing him to win the prize.
It was a swift ascent for Nix, who was the sixth quarterback selected despite being a top-12 overall pick. Bringing significant experience as a 24-year-old, Nix played three years at Auburn and two at Oregon.
Facing a tough challenge in his first starting job, Nix will debut in Seattle, where the Broncos are currently a five-point underdog on DraftKings. Nix will contend against the notoriously loud crowd at Lumen Field and the complex defensive schemes of first-year Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. Furthermore, Nix has personal history, having been 0-3 against the Washington Huskies while at Oregon.
Denver’s initial season schedule presents some opportunities. Following a trip to Seattle, they return for a home opener against Pittsburgh before heading to the East Coast to face Tampa Bay and the New York Jets. Denver opens their AFC West season with home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Broncos sit at +500 to make the playoffs at BetMGM, with their 5.5 Over/Under win total unaffected by Nix’s strong start at quarterback. However, the Over has attracted 83% of all bets placed, as per the bookmaker.
Nix is set to become the first rookie quarterback to start his first season for Denver since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.
“Obviously, it’s special sharing this milestone with a great player like John Elway, but my focus is squarely on doing everything I can for the team,” Nix remarked. “Whether your first start is early or late, it doesn’t matter. The goal remains to give your team the best chance to win and to perform at the highest level. That’s my focus going into this season – to give our team the best opportunity to secure victories each week.”
