Bo Nix's standing among national NFL analysts remains a topic of debate. After missing ESPN's list of the league's top quarterbacks, another prominent columnist has questioned whether the Denver Broncos quarterback belongs among the NFL's elite.

Denver Gazette columnist Mark Kiszla has called out Broncos Country for hyping up Nix a bit too much after their 14-3 franchise-record regular season, which was followed by a deep postseason run till the AFC Championship game.

"Sorry, Broncomaniacs. For me, Nix is too dinky-dunky to be considered a rock-solid top-10 quarterback," Kiszla said, referring to ESPN's list where Nix failed to make the top 16.

Kiszla believes Nix's efficiency on short throws hasn't translated into the kind of downfield production typically associated with elite quarterbacks.

Nix's weakness is glaring on deep throws: 10 INTs and an 80.2 passer rating, as per Denver Sports' Joey Freeburg.

In 2025, Nix averaged just 6.4 yards per pass attempt, ranking 28th overall among NFL starting quarterbacks per Kiszla.

"With the help of new play-caller Davis Webb, if Nix can boost that average to 7.5, everybody else and I will happily rank him in the top 10," Denver Gazette's Mark Kiszla noted.

For Kiszla, improving Denver's vertical passing game is the final step before Nix can be viewed among the league's top quarterbacks.

The Broncos' addition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle could help Nix stretch the field with his speed.

Kiszla's unquestioned top five: Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

Then he counter-questioned whether Nix could make a case against quarterbacks like Jared Goff, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Jayden Daniels and Sam Darnold, whom Kiszla noted would've dominated Nix had the Broncos faced the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl LX.

But NFL players see Nix differently. They ranked him higher than three QBs on ESPN's elite list

Bo Nix ranking update among the top 100 is proof of his prowess

The Bo Nix exclusion from the top 16 quarterbacks by ESPN occurred despite Nix throwing for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025.

He also led the NFL with seven game-winning drives throughout the 2025 regular season, as per Aric DiLalla of DenverBroncos.com.

Nix landed at No. 59 overall on the 2026 NFL Top 100 list, climbing five spots from last year's No. 64 ranking.

NFL players actually ranked Nix higher than names like Trevor Lawrence (62nd), Lamar Jackson (69th), Jordan Love (72nd), and Baker Mayfield (77th), who all ranked higher than him on ESPN's top 10 list.

Nix joined former QB Peyton Manning and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert as the only QBs in NFL history to accumulate 3,500 passing yards and 25 passing TDs in each of their first two seasons.

Las Vegas Raiders EDGE defender Maxx Crosby, a divisional rival, spoke of Nix's physical traits.

"When Bo needs to make a play, he's able to make big plays. He's athletic," Crosby noted as per the NFL's post of Bo Nix ranking 59th on X. "He's got a great arm. He's a dog. I'll give it to him."

The praise highlights the contrast between how opposing players view Nix and how some analysts continue to evaluate his game.

Can he prove his haters wrong by taking the Broncos to a Super Bowl in 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Rudra Dubey