NFL Draft countdown: Focus on Broncos' first-round pick at No. 12

The 2024 NFL Draft is only 12 days away. 

Last year, the Detroit Lions surprised everyone by taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall. This year, the Denver Broncos own the 12th pick. 

Here’s who experts think they'll take.

ESPN (Mike Tannenbaum): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Does anyone really think the Broncos will enter the regular season with Jared Stidham as their starting quarterback? Tannenbaum doesn’t and has the team adding a franchise QB with their first-round pick.

“Obviously Denver is in transition at QB after releasing Russell Wilson,” Tannenbaum wrote. “Nix's 77.4% completion rate led the nation in 2023, and he threw 45 TD passes to three interceptions. He has the accuracy and anticipation to succeed in Sean Payton's offense.”

Nix also ran for 744 yards and 10 touchdowns in two years at Oregon; he totaled 1,154 yards and 38 scores if you include his rushing stats with Auburn. 

Of course, Nix doesn’t have the strongest arm you’ll ever see, but neither did future Hall of Famer Drew Brees who thrived in Payton’s scheme for 15 years as a Saint.

CBS Sports (Bryan DeArdo) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Bowers is generally considered the best tight end draft. He had 2,731 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons with Georgia and, like Nix, would fit perfectly in Payton’s offense.