How Does Broncos’ Bo Nix Stack Up to the Quarterbacks Taken Ahead of Him in 2024?
When the Denver Broncos selected Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, many analysts viewed him as a tier below the five quarterbacks selected before him. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy all heard their names called earlier, leaving questions about whether Denver had reached for its quarterback of the future. Two seasons later, those early evaluations look far less certain.
While the debate surrounding the 2024 quarterback class is far from settled, enough evidence now exists to compare each passer’s early NFL trajectory. Some have exceeded expectations, others have battled inconsistency or injuries, and a few remain difficult to evaluate due to limited playing time. As the Broncos prepare for the 2026 season, where exactly does Nix stack up against the five quarterbacks selected before him?
Caleb Williams (Selected No. 1 Overall by Chicago Bears in 2024 NFL Draft)
The interesting thing about Caleb Williams is that his stock rebounded dramatically in 2025 after leading the Chicago Bears to just five wins as a rookie. Williams looked much more comfortable in Year 2, throwing for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions while guiding the Bears to an 11-6 record, an NFC North title, and the conference’s No. 2 seed. He followed that up with a memorable 31-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 Wild Card Round and became the cover athlete for Madden NFL 27.
The talent has never been in question. Williams can make jaw-dropping throws, and his ability to create outside of structure remains one of his defining traits. At just 24 years old entering the 2026 season, there is still plenty of reason to believe his best football lies ahead.
However, there are still areas where Nix holds an edge. Williams completed just 58.1 percent of his passes in 2025, and questions about his consistency and accuracy have not completely disappeared. When combined with the fact that Nix has already led Denver to the playoffs in both of his NFL seasons, it is enough to give the Broncos quarterback the slightest of advantages, though the gap between the two is razor thin.
Jayden Daniels (Selected No. 2 Overall by Washington Commanders in 2024 NFL Draft)
No quarterback from the 2024 class has produced a better single season than Jayden Daniels did as a rookie. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while adding 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Daniels led the Washington Commanders to a 12-5 record, an appearance in the 2024 NFC Championship Game, won Offensive Rookie of the Year, and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
Unfortunately, his momentum came to a halt in 2025. Daniels appeared in just seven games due to injury, and Washington finished with a 5-12 record. The lost season creates at least some uncertainty regarding his long-term durability.
Even so, Daniels remains ahead of Nix entering 2026. His combination of arm talent, athleticism, and game-breaking rushing ability gives him a ceiling few quarterbacks can match. Nix is a quality athlete in his own right, but Daniels possesses a rare dual-threat skill set that can completely alter how defenses are forced to play.
Drake Maye (Selected No. 3 Overall by New England Patriots in 2024 NFL Draft)
Drake Maye has assembled one of the strongest résumés through two seasons of any quarterback in the 2024 draft class. The New England Patriots quarterback has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two NFL seasons, was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2025, and finished second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford. He then capped off his breakout 2025 campaign by helping guide New England to Super Bowl LX.
Maye has validated many of the traits that made him such a highly regarded prospect. His arm strength, mobility, toughness, and ability to make plays outside of structure have translated well to the professional level. More importantly, his production has matched the talent.
There is one notable caveat. New England’s path to the Super Bowl included a narrow 10-7 victory over Denver in the 2025 AFC Championship Game, a contest the Broncos played without Nix after he suffered a season-ending broken ankle the week before. Many around the league believe Denver would have won that matchup with a healthy Nix, but hypothetical outcomes can only go so far. For now, Maye’s accolades and accomplishments give him a slight but legitimate edge.
Michael Penix Jr. (Selected No. 8 Overall by Atlanta Falcons in 2024 NFL Draft)
Michael Penix Jr. entered the NFL with questions about durability, and unfortunately those concerns have followed him into his professional career. Through two seasons, he owns a 4-8 record as a starter with a modest 12-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His 2025 season was cut short by a torn ACL suffered in Week 11, further limiting his opportunity to establish himself as the Atlanta Falcons’ long-term answer at quarterback.
Perhaps most concerning is what happened after he went down. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins stepped into the lineup and led Atlanta to a 5-3 record down the stretch, while Penix had posted a 3-6 record before the injury. Fair or not, the contrast raised additional questions about whether Penix has done enough to cement himself as the Falcons’ long-term answer at quarterback.
The comparison with Nix is not particularly close at this point. While Penix is still young enough to change the narrative, he has yet to prove he can consistently win games or stay healthy. Nix, meanwhile, has already established himself as a franchise quarterback and has completely avoided the bust conversations that are beginning to surround Penix.
J.J. McCarthy (Selected No. 10 Overall by Minnesota Vikings in 2024 NFL Draft)
J.J. McCarthy’s NFL career got off to a difficult start before it even began. A torn meniscus wiped out his entire rookie season, delaying his development and leaving the Minnesota Vikings with more questions than answers entering 2025. When he finally took the field, however, he delivered an unforgettable debut.
Trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter against Chicago, McCarthy rallied Minnesota to a dramatic 27-24 victory and became the first quarterback in NFL history to account for three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his NFL debut. Unfortunately, that game remains the high point of his professional career to this point. Despite posting a 6-4 record as a starter, McCarthy threw just 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions and often appeared to be more of a passenger than a driving force behind the Vikings’ success.
Durability concerns have also begun to emerge. McCarthy appeared in only 10 games in 2025, and Minnesota’s decision to sign Kyler Murray this offseason suggests the organization is still searching for answers at the position. The Broncos have no doubt that Nix is their franchise quarterback, while the Vikings are still trying to determine whether McCarthy is theirs.
Final Thoughts
Two years ago, five quarterbacks came off the board before Denver selected Bo Nix. While Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye still hold the edge entering the 2026 season, Nix has already exceeded expectations by establishing himself ahead of Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy.
But the debate surrounding the 2024 quarterback class is far from over. For the Broncos, however, the most important takeaway is simple: Denver found its franchise quarterback, regardless of where he was selected.
