Malik Nabers Grades Rookie Season with Giants a 'C': 'I Know My Potential' in NFL
Feb 5, 2025
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: Malik Nabers #1 of the New York Giants and NFC runs up field during practice prior to the Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium on February 1, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Malik Nabers, by most accounts, had a fantastic rookie season for the New York Giants, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.
It was excellent production for any wideout, let alone a first-year player, but Nabers gave himself a fairly mediocre grade for the effort.
"I just feel like, I missed two games," he said during a Wednesday appearance on Pro Football Talk (2:00 mark). "I didn't get 10 touchdowns. ... Stats could've been way better. I could've done a lot of things way better in the season. I grade it as a 'C.' I know my potential."
He was one of five finalists for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, joining Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Robinson Jr. and Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.
Daniels is the overwhelming favorite to win the award, while Bowers was a first-team All-Pro and is likely in line to be the runner-up. But Nabers is being a bit hard on himself—registering over 100 catches and 1,200 receiving yards deserves far more than a "C" grade for any receiver who hits those marks, let alone a rookie. Nabers has stardom in his future.
The Giants will be thrilled to hear that Nabers isn't satisfied, however.
Sean Payton Praises Bo Nix After Playoff Loss: Broncos Found QB 'That Can Lead Us'
Jan 16, 2025
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 28: Bo Nix (10) of the Denver Broncos awaits the extra point call from head coach Sean Payton after hitting Marvin Mims Jr. (19) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals' 30-24 win at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, December 28, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Sean Payton believes the Denver Broncos have found their next great quarterback in rookie Bo Nix.
"I know this, he's very conscientious. ... I think it's all in front of him," Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wednesday, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I've said this before, I think we've found that player that can lead us and be what we need relative to having the success that we're used to having. I think we found him."
Some questioned the Broncos' decision to take Nix, a 24-year-old player out of Oregon, with the 12th pick in the draft, but the former Heisman finalist quickly showed why Denver was so high on him.
He had a few rough performances early in the year, which is expected out of a rookie quarterback, but he finished with 3,775 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He added 430 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Nix's 29 touchdowns were the second-most ever by a rookie, only behind Justin Herbert who had 31 in 2020.
But Nix did more than just put up good numbers, he made the Broncos a winning team.
Denver finished 10-7 and reached the playoffs, snapping an eight-year playoff drought and leading the team to 10 wins for the first time since 2015.
The season ultimately didn't end how the Brocnos wished as they lost to the Buffalo Bills 31-7, but Payton has every reason to believe Nix can eventually make Denver a Super Bowl contender.
Wild Card Weekend is over. While six NFL teams have punched their tickets to the divisional round, another six are headed into the offseason looking for ways…
NFL Exec: Sean Payton Won't 'Let Anyone Get in the Way of' What He Needs for Broncos
Jan 13, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos takes the field before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos were one of the best stories in the NFL this past season, going 10-7 and reaching the playoffs in Sean Payton's second year at the helm.
The future looks bright, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix exceeding expectations. The Broncos could still use some more playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, however, and at least one executive believes Payton will get the types of players he desires this offseason.
"Sean will have a clear vision of exactly what he needs, and he will not let anyone get in the way of that," the executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando.
"If they had a tight end or runner that could separate and win against man coverage, they would be really tough to deal with," another executive added.
Denver's weakness this season was at the skill positions on offense. Javonte Williams led the run game with 513 yards and four touchdowns. Courtland Sutton had a strong season at wide receiver, posting 81 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns, but Marvin Mims Jr. was the next most productive wideout and had mediocre numbers (39 catches for 503 yards and six touchdowns). None of the team's tight ends exceeded 200 receiving yards.
Nix has proven to be the perfect fit for Payton's system, but he needs playmakers. Expect Payton to find a way to get him some.
Broncos' Bo Nix Played Through Fractured Back Injury Since Raiders Game in Week 12
Jan 13, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix didn't miss a snap during the 2024 season despite being banged up for months.
During Monday's exit interviews following Denver's loss to the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's AFC Wild Card Game, Nix revealed to reporters that he had been playing through three transverse process fractures, which he suffered in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 24.
Bo Nix said he played with three transverse process fractures in back during game at Raiders Nov 24. Didn’t miss a snap. #9sportspic.twitter.com/V4vL6KN79K
Nix downplayed the accomplishment of playing through the injury, saying that "a lot of guys play with a lot of those kinds of things."
The 2024 No. 12 pick helped spearhead a massive turnaround in Denver, as the team went 10-7 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015. In Sunday's game against the Bills, Nix threw for 144 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-22 passing and had a team-high 43 rushing yards as the Broncos suffered a 31-7 loss.
Still, Nix has a lot to be proud of after his first year in the NFL. He finished the season ranked sixth in the league with 29 touchdowns and 12th with 3,775 yards while throwing 12 interceptions. He also added 430 rushing yards and four more scores.
Nix will need the Broncos to add more talent around him if they want to continue building on the success of the 2024 campaign. In its latest mock draft, B/R's NFL Scouting Department predicted that Denver would select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 21 pick.
A healthy Nix with more weapons on offense could put the Broncos in a position to contend for another playoff spot and potentially make a deeper run in 2025 and beyond.
Bo Nix: Broncos' 'Trajectory Is Going Up' Despite NFL Playoff Loss to Bills
Jan 12, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Even though the Denver Broncos suffered a 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in their Wild Card playoff matchup on Sunday, Bo Nix is still optimistic about the team's long-term outlook.
"It's a lot to grow from, a lot to build from," Nix said after the game, via Michael Baca of NFL.com. "I'm excited to be here at this time because our trajectory is going up. I'm excited for a lot of things we have out in front of us. We have a lot to look forward to that I'm pumped about."
Nix and the Broncos kept Sunday's contest close throughout the first half, taking an early 7-0 lead and trailing by just three points at halftime.
The Bills pulled away in the second half by scoring 21 points over the final two quarters.
As for Nix himself, the rookie quarterback finished 13-of-22 for 144 yards and a touchdown without turning the ball over. He also rushed for a team-high 43 yards on four attempts.
Despite the lopsided defeat against Buffalo, the Broncos' 2024 campaign was still immensely successful. They compiled a 10-7 record, clinching a playoff berth for the first time since their Super Bowl victory in the 2015 season.
Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, wrapped up a strong inaugural year. The 24-year-old completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions. He rushed for 430 yards and four more scores.
The Broncos also boast several young stars on the defensive side of the ball including cornerback Patrick Surtain II and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who are both under 26 years old.
Denver was defeated by an experienced Bills team in the playoffs on Sunday, but the future is still bright for Nix's squad.
From a big-picture perspective, the Denver Broncos can't be much more pleased with how things unfolded in 2024. While Sean Payton failed to lead Denver to the…
Sean Payton Criticized by NFL Fans as Bo Nix, Broncos Suffer Playoff Loss to Bills
Jan 12, 2025
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 28: Bo Nix (10) of the Denver Broncos awaits the extra point call from head coach Sean Payton after hitting Marvin Mims Jr. (19) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals' 30-24 win at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, December 28, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
The Denver Broncos' first postseason trip since the 2015 campaign was short-lived.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills defeated Denver 31-7 in Sunday's AFC Wild Card Round at Highmark Stadium and will face Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in an MVP-caliber showdown in the Divisional Round.
Allen went 20-of-26 passing for 272 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions with 46 rushing yards, while James Cook ran for 120 yards and one touchdown.
It seemed like Denver was going to threaten an upset when Bo Nix threw a deep touchdown to open the scoring in the first three minutes, but the Bills took the lead in the second quarter and never looked back.
It was a game to forget for Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who became quite conservative and predictable in his play-calling after a quick start that included the deep-ball touchdown and a fake punt. The visitors failed to take advantage of their early momentum as a result, and social media highlighted Payton's struggles:
The play calling today by Payton is so meh
Four straight plays that gain a first down when you’ve spread out the defense. Allowing Nix to run if needed. So after a Bills timeout … you come out with three guys in the backfield to throw a swing pass that goes for -3. Gross
Someone let Sean Payton know that time of possession no longer matters when you are losing by 2 TDs late in the third quarter. He's calling the game like they have a 2 TD lead.
To say Denver was facing an uphill battle would be an understatement, as it had to play with a rookie quarterback in front of a raucous Buffalo crowd against Allen and a Bills squad with realistic Super Bowl aspirations.
But that rookie quarterback wasted no time announcing his presence when Nix unleashed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin on the game's first possession. It was the first rookie-to-rookie touchdown in NFL playoff history and put the Bills in comeback mode out of the gates.
Cook's touchdown run in the second quarter gave Buffalo the lead for good, although the Broncos went into the halftime locker room feeling good after successfully executing a fake punt and holding Allen to just 69 passing yards before intermission. They also moved into field-goal range in the two-minute drill, although Wil Lutz's kick bounced off the post.
Still, there would be no hanging around down the stretch.
Allen made the play of the game on 4th-and-1 when he bought himself time in the pocket and found a sliding Ty Johnson in the back of the end zone for a momentum-altering touchdown. From there, he hit an open Curtis Samuel, who did the rest by breaking a tackle and cutting it back for a 55-yard touchdown to open a three-score lead.
While Nix has a bright future and played well at the start, there was no way he was going to lead a multi-score comeback on the road against this Bills squad.
As a result, it has now been nine seasons since the Broncos won a playoff game.
Bo Nix, Broncos Dominate Chiefs to Upset Bengals, Dolphins Fans in NFL Playoff Race
Jan 6, 2025
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 05: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field At Mile High on January 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos are in the playoffs after crushing a resting Kansas City Chiefs playing its backups, 38-0 at home on Sunday.
It was win-and-in for Denver, and that task was made much easier with the Chiefs resting a host of stars and starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive lineman Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie, among many others.
Nix completed 26-of-29 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns and added 47 rushing yards. His 18 straight completions to open a game are a rookie record.
Per @OptaSTATS, Bo Nix’s 18 straight completions to start the game today were the most by any rookie to open a game in NFL history. #BroncosCountry
He threw one score to Courtland Sutton (five catches, 98 yards), two to Marvin Mims Jr. (five catches, 51 yards) and another to Devaughn Vele (four catches, 50 yards).
Needless to say, the rookie got plenty of love for his surgical precision and clutch performance. It may have been against backups, but Nix was about as great as can be.
After almost 9 years…14 QB’s. 5 head coaches. A team that was projected to win 5 whole games this year by the “experts,” those same “experts” shitting all over this team drafting Bo Nix… the Broncos are back in the playoffs. I don’t care what happens next week this feels good.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs could do nothing against a staunch Broncos defense. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz threw for just 98 yards, and the Chiefs combined for 23 rushing yards.
It was a great day for Denver, but a tough one for the Cincinnati Bengals, who needed a Bronco loss and a Miami Dolphin defeat to the New York Jets to sneak into the playoffs. Cincinnati ended the regular season at 9-8 following a five-game winning streak, but a brutal 12-game start, which included seven losses by 26 combined points, did them in.
Miami needed a win and a Bronco loss, which would have been good enough for the Dolphins to jump Cincinnati and Denver on the conference record tiebreaker.
But Bengals and Dolphins fans' hopes quickly went up in smoke as Nix carved up the Chiefs defense.
Cincinnati and Miami will now stay home, while Denver will visit the Buffalo Bills for their AFC Wild Card round matchup at a date and time to-be-determined.
For the first time since their Super Bowl run in the 2015 season, the Denver Broncos are heading to the playoffs.
On Sunday, the Broncos snapped their eight-season playoff drought, the second-longest in the NFL only behind the New York Jets. Denver clinched a playoff berth with its 38-0 home win over the Kansas City Chiefs, securing the final playoff spot in the league.
After the Broncos punched their ticket to the postseason, here's a look at how the playoff race is shaping up and a look back at how Denver managed to snap its ugly postseason drought.
AFC Standings
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 15-2
2. Buffalo Bills: 13-4
3. Baltimore Ravens: 12-5
4. Houston Texans: 10-7
5. Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6
6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7
7. Denver Broncos: 10-7
-------PLAYOFF LINE-------
8. Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8
9. Indianapolis Colts: 8-9
10. Miami Dolphins: 8-9
11. New York Jets: 5-12
12. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-13
13. New England Patriots: 4-13
14. Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13
15. Cleveland Browns: 3-14
16. Tennessee Titans: 3-14
NFC Standings
1. Detroit Lions: 15-2
2. Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7
4. Los Angeles Rams: 10-7
5. Minnesota Vikings: 14-3
6. Washington Commanders: 12-5
7. Green Bay Packers: 11-6
-------PLAYOFF LINE-------
8. Seattle Seahawks: 10-7
9. Atlanta Falcons: 8-9
10. Arizona Cardinals: 8-9
11. Dallas Cowboys: 7-10
12. San Francisco 49ers: 6-11
13. Chicago Bears: 5-12
14. Carolina Panthers: 5-12
15. New Orleans Saints: 5-12
16. New York Giants: 3-14
In the first year of the Bo Nix era, Broncos fans were likely hopeful for the playoffs, but realistically expected it to be a developmental year.
The rookie quarterback quickly showed he was capable of guiding the team to the postseason after shaking off a handful of ugly games.
Denver started the year 0-2 but won five of its six games in late September and October to assert itself in playoff position. After a pummeling from the Baltimore Ravens in November, the Broncos nearly handed the Chiefs their first loss, but a blocked field goal left Denver short of a victory.
The Broncos have won five straight since that defeat and are now playoff-bound.
Nix has had a fantastic year and has arguably been the second-best rookie behind Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders. Some argued at the time that drafting Nix so early was a bit risky, but it has clearly paid off as he's thrown for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns.
The Broncos' bread and butter has been defense this season, though. They allow the eighth-fewest yards per game and have the most sacks in the NFL this year. Third-year linebacker Nik Bonitto has been the star of the defense as he's accounted for 13.5 sacks.
Denver took a major step forward by reaching the playoffs this year, but winning a Super Bowl is still probably a bit of a stretch. The Broncos would have to get through a tough AFC that features the back-to-back champs in the Chiefs along with the strong Bills and Ravens.
