Patriots draft profile: Bo Nix could be a compelling second-tier option at quarterback

The veteran Oregon quarterback could be a savvy move for New England after Day 1.

The New England Patriots are in the market for a new starting quarterback, and Eliot Wolf has said the team likes as many as six quarterbacks in this draft. That list could include Oregon star Bo Nix, an experienced signal-caller who could elevate the floor of New England’s offense in Alex Van Pelt’s system.

Hard facts

Name: Bo Nix

Position: Quarterback

School: Oregon (via transfer from Auburn)

Opening day age: 24 (2/25/2000)

Measurements: 6’2 1/8”, 214 lbs, 30 7/8” arm length, 10 1/8” hand size, 74 1/4” wingspan

Experience

Career statistics: 61 games (61 starts) | 4,032 offensive snaps | 1,286-of-1,936 (64.9%), 15,352 passing yards, 113 passing TDs, 26 interceptions | 405 rushing attempts, 1,613 rushing yards, 38 rushing TDs

Accolades: Second team All-American (2023), Pac-12 Off. POY (2023), First team All-Pac-12 (2023), Honorable mention All-Pac-12 (2022), SEC Freshman of the Year (2019)

The No. 1 dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school in 2019, Bo Nix stayed in his home state of Alabama and committed to Auburn. In his first year with the Tigers, Nix set a school record for a freshman with 2,542 passing yards and earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors.

Nix was named team captain his next two years at Auburn, both of which were shortened – one by the pandemic, the other due to injury. He was unable to match his numbers from his freshman season in either year, and, after three years as a starter with the Tigers, Nix opted to transfer to Oregon.

In his first year with Oregon, Nix passed for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 71.9 percent of his passes. All three numbers were career highs by significant margins, as were his 510 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Nix opted to use his extra year of eligibility and returned to Oregon for his fifth season as a college starter in 2023. He increased his passing yards total to 4,508 and threw for 45 touchdowns while completing 77.4 percent of his passes (an FBS record for completion percentage), earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and All-American honors in the process.

Nix’s 61 career starts set a new NCAA record for a college quarterback, surpassing Kellen Moore and Colt McCoy with 53 each.

Draft profile

Expected round: 2 | Consensus big board: No. 38 | Patriots meeting: Combine

Strengths: Bo Nix is a highly experienced quarterback prospect with athleticism to play the position at the NFL level. As a passer, he has proven he can consistently operate an offense the way a coach would like it to be run, executing on underneath passes at a high level of consistency with quick decision-making abilities. He has the arm strength and accuracy to do well attacking deep down the field. While he wasn’t asked to do this much at Oregon, he was efficient with his opportunities.

Nix has done a good job of taking care of the football, throwing just 26 interceptions in five seasons as a starter. In 2023, he threw three interceptions on 470 pass attempts. In addition, he did very well at avoiding pressure, with just 7.6 percent of pressure resulting in a sack.

Nix also adds value as a runner, where he has 38 career touchdowns and over 1,600 yards. He is particularly valuable in short-yardage situations where he can take advantage of light boxes to pick up first downs.

Weaknesses: Nix is just an average athlete for an NFL quarterback who was a very questionable decision-maker when he was last asked to be the focal point of an offense. At 24 years old and with more experience than any quarterback draft prospect in history, it is also fair to assume he may have already maxed out his capabilities.

Nix’s passing numbers are juiced by an offensive attack that did not ask much of him. Head coach Dan Lanning designed a system that was simple for a quarterback with a high quantity of underneath throws and quick reads. His average depth of target of just 6.8 yards is the lowest of the quarterbacks at the top of this draft by a wide margin. Nix attempted almost as many passes behind the line of scrimmage (131) as he did ten or more yards down the field (142). Despite the high volume of short passes and high completion percentage, his accuracy can be very erratic.

When plays broke down, the younger Bo Nix from Auburn who tended to panic and make bad decisions or have his mechanics break down still showed up his last two years at Oregon. There’s some Brock Purdy in his game in that he has a history of making poor decisions, but he can be productive when constrained within the rules of an offense.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Bo Nix would compete with Jacoby Brissett for the starting job from day one, and he could be New England’s starter in week one.

What is his growth potential? With 61 starts under his belt, Nix likely has the lowest growth potential of any quarterback in the top tiers. He may already be a finished product who has maxed out his physical abilities.

Does he have positional versatility? How about Bo Nix, punter?

Why the Patriots? New England needs a quarterback, and Nix could be a scheme-friendly option available later in the draft should the Patriots not like the available options at pick No. 3. He’s best suited to a Shanahan or McVay style offense where the coordinator can guide his decision-making and make the game simple for him. With Alex Van Pelt running a similar system, New England may like him.

Why not the Patriots? Nix’s ceiling may be a bridge QB with similar abilities to Jacoby Brissett, and New England is likely to have a prospect with a much higher ceiling on the board at No. 3.

One-sentence verdict: Bo Nix comes into the league poised to exist in the low-end starter, high-end backup tier for his career, but the right scheme could elevate his play into the type of quarterback you can win with consistently.

What do you think about Bo Nix as a potential Patriots target? Could he be a great addition to New England’s quarterback room? Or would other players be a better fit? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.