Comparing Bo Nix Stats to Elway, Tebow and Broncos' Notable Rookie QBs After 5 Starts

After being selected No. 12 overall in the 2024 draft, Bo Nix joined the Denver Broncos following two impressive seasons with the Oregon Ducks, where he averaged 300 passing yards per game with a 75 percent completion rate.

While he has not yet posted the same type of stats in the NFL that he had in Eugene, the 24-year-old is actually producing much better numbers through five games than most previous Denver rookie quarterbacks.

Over five starts for the rookie, Nix has posted:

• 102-165 on passes, with a 62 percent pass completion

• Three passing touchdowns and four interceptions
• 866 passing yards
• 119 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns

When compared to several other former Denver rookie quarterbacks, Nix's "rough start" does not seem so rough.

Brock Osweiler, No. 57 overall pick in the 2012 draft.  

Out of Arizona State University, Osweiler played in just five games his rookies season behind Peyton Manning, with zero starts.

Over his first five appearances, Osweiler posted:

• 2-4 with a 62 percent pass completions

• Zero touchdowns and zero interceptions
• 12 passing yards
• Negative 13 rushing yards  

Tim Tebow, No. 25 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Tebow was drafted by the Broncos out of Florida, where he was a 2007 Heisman winner and a two-time national champion. During his rookie season, Tebow played in nine games, starting three for Denver.

Over his three starts during his rookie season, Tebow posted:

• 40-81 with a 49 percent pass completion
• Four passing touchdowns and three interceptions
• 651 passing yards 
• 199 rushing yards with three touchdowns and one fumble
  

Tebow played just three years in the NFL, two with Denver and one with the New York Jets, before retiring at 25 in 2012.

Jay Cutler, No. 11 overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Coming out of Vanderbilt, Cutler earned the 2005 SEC Player of the Year award before heading to Denver where did not see the field until Week 13, earning five starts in five appearances.

Over his first five starts Cutler posted:

• 81-137 with a 59 percent pass completion
• Nine touchdowns and five interceptions 
  
• 1,001 passing yards   
  

During his second season, Cutler improved to a 64 percent pass completion rate with 219 passing yards per game and 20 touchdowns.

Tommy Maddox No. 35 overall pick in the 1992 draft

Out of UCLA, Maddox entered his rookie season with just two college seasons under his belts. He did not play for Denver until Week 4, earning four starts over thirteen games.

Over his four starts during his rookie season, Maddox posted:

• 52-97 with a 54 percent pass completion
• Five touchdowns and eight interceptions 
• 560 passing yards 

With a rocky rookie season under his belt, Maddox was all but benched during his second season before being traded to two different teams, finally landing a long-term spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers where he won the 2002 Comeback Player of the Year and one Super Bowl in 2006.

John Elway, No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 draft. 

Elway was initially drafted by the Baltimore Colts before being traded to the Broncos. He spent four years at Stanford before staring 10 games for Denver and playing in 11.

Through his first five starts, Elway posted:

• 38-83 with a 46 percent completion
• One touchdowns and five interceptions
  
• 420 passing yards  
  

The Hall of Famer went on to play 16 years in the NFL, making the playoffs nine times, earning nine Pro Bowl appearances, winning the 1987 MVP and securing two Super Bowl titles with the Broncos.

Denver quarterbacks have famously struggled in their rookie seasons and while Nix may not be producing the numbers that fans had hoped for so far, he represents an improvement over past quarterback draft picks for the Broncos.