Denver Broncos Quarterback Bo Nix Ranked As NFL MVP Dark Horse?

The former Oregon Ducks star quickly silenced doubters in his rookie season and now, NFL analyst Mike Tannenbaum picked Nix as the second-year quarterback most likely to be an NFL MVP dark horse candidate.

"Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, and here's why. If we're talking about the Broncos competing with the (Kansas City) Chiefs in a meaningful way, it's going to start with their defense, but Bo Nix was extremely efficient as a rookie, better than I expected," said Tannenbaum on SportsCenter.

"They went out and added (runningback) R.J. Harvey in the draft and then (tight end) Evan Engram, which will just make Bo Nix even more efficient. And you think about what Sean Payton did with Drew Brees. I think Bo Nix is on that sort of trajectory. And if we're talking about a surprise team in the Broncos, which a lot of us are, it's going to be led by their second-year quarterback, Bo Nix," Tannenbaum continued.

Nix surprised many when he led the Broncos to the NFL playoffs, dazzling with 3,775 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. Nix also led all rookie quarterbacks in passing yards and passing touchdowns last season.

Nix broke multiple NFL rookie records in coach Sean Payton's Denver offense. Payton thinks year two will be more stable for Nix, who has all five offensive lineman returning from last year.

"It's a lot different," Payton said per the team website. "Just the processing (and) understanding of what we're doing in and out of the huddle (has improved). As you're watching each (Nix) decision, (the throws are) where you want the ball to go. I think it's entirely different."

Former Denver quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning expects Nix and the Broncos to keep building on their momentum in the 2025 NFL season.

"It’s been a good fit,” Manning said during an interview on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan this offseason. “I just see it continuing to get better... You could tell Sean was interested in him early on as a player, as a person. And I think he’s been everything that Sean was kind of hoping he would be. Just a gym rat, a guy that loves ball, a guy that wants more. ‘Hey, give me more, I can handle it.'”

The Broncos regular season opener is vs. the Tennessee Titans at home on September 7.

For Ducks fans, it's exciting to see another Oregon quarterback shine in the NFL, joining Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota and now Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel as current former Ducks quarterbacks in the NFL.