The future stars of the NFL were on full display this past week as five first-round rookie quarterbacks offered a promising glimpse into what's to come during their preseason debuts.
Caleb Williams Shines in Chicago
Caleb Williams, starting for the Chicago Bears, demonstrated why he was chosen as a first-round pick. Williams converted a difficult third-and-long by hitting wide receiver D.J. Moore for a 12-yard gain, followed by an impressive 42-yard pass to running back D'Andre Swift. Although the drive ended with a red zone stop, kicker Cairo Santos managed to salvage it with a 30-yard field goal. Williams ended his brief appearance completing 4 of 7 passes for 95 yards and showcased his mobility with a 13-yard scramble.
Jayden Daniels Starts Strong
Jayden Daniels encountered a rocky start when his first NFL pass lofted over Austin Ekeler's head. However, he quickly redeemed himself by connecting with wideout Dyami Brown for a remarkable 42-yard gain. He capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, finishing his night completing 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and showcasing his versatility with the touchdown run.
Drake Maye's Limited Action
Drake Maye had limited time on the field but made it count. He completed two of his three attempts for 19 yards. Notably, his first pass was a crucial third-and-12 conversion to Antonio Gipson, indicative of his ability to perform under pressure.
Michael Penix Jr. Leads Falcons' Offense
Michael Penix Jr. saw substantial playtime against the Miami Dolphins, participating in five possessions during the first half. Penix Jr. led the Atlanta Falcons on two scoring drives, completing 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards. He showcased his deep-throw accuracy with a 41-yard pass to Chris Blair, marking a strong debut performance.
J.J. McCarthy's Eventful Outing
J.J. McCarthy's debut was a mix of highs and lows. His first pass resulted in an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor, but his second throw was intercepted by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Not deterred, McCarthy bounced back with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson early in the second half, ending his day with 188 yards on 11 of 17 passing. Head coach Kevin O'Connell praised McCarthy's resilience, saying, “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive.”
Bo Nix Impresses for Broncos
Perhaps the most impressive debut came from Bo Nix, who led the Denver Broncos to scores on four out of five drives. Nix concluded his performance with 15 completions on 21 attempts for 125 yards, including an 11-yard scramble. He also threw his first touchdown pass to Marvin Mims. Reflecting on the performance, Nix said, “It was a good day. I thought we ran the ball efficiently. Made some good plays in the pass game. Converted some third downs. Got points when we needed to; it was a good job going into half with points and coming out with points, felt like that was a good point in the game. Overall, thought we did a good job, huge team win.”
Teammates and Coaches Weigh In
Players and coaches alike were full of praise for the rookie quarterbacks. Sam Cosmi commented on how Michael Penix Jr. maintained his calm and collected demeanor, even making crucial mid-play checks. “He made a check mid-play. It turned out to be a big gain. We bunkered down and really went in there. He was calm and collected, which is what you want to see, and it was really impressive. We all sat on the sideline, and we were like, 'Dang, that was really fun.'”
Raheem Morris also expressed satisfaction with his quarterback’s performance, stating, “He wants one of those throws back that he threw on the sideline, but he was able to go through some progression. He was able to progress. We get a little pass happy with him since he's a first-round quarterback. It was fun to see him go out there and execute some of the pass plays, and we were able to get some of the stuff done. ... Pretty much, a really good night for him and I was really pleased with what he was able to do.”
The preseason showcases provided a sneak peek into the promising futures of these young quarterbacks, each bringing their own unique talents and resilience to the field. It is clear that these rookies have much to offer as they continue to develop their NFL careers.