The future of the NFL was on full display this past week as five first-round rookie quarterbacks dazzled in their preseason debuts, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what's to come. Each quarterback showcased their skills, leaving fans and analysts buzzing with anticipation.
Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels Kick Things Off
No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels made their long-awaited debuts on Saturday. Williams, starting for the Chicago Bears, did not disappoint. On his first drive, he converted a third-and-long by connecting with wide receiver D.J. Moore for a 12-yard gain. He followed it up with a stunning 42-yard pass to running back D'Andre Swift. Although the Bears’ drive ended in a red zone stop, Cairo Santos salvaged it with a 30-yard field goal, putting Chicago on the board first.
Williams continued to impress on the Bears' second drive, delivering a bullet to tight end Cole Kmet while on the move. Although the drive ultimately stalled in the red zone again, it showed Williams' knack for playmaking. He finished his brief appearance 4 of 7 for 95 yards, along with a 13-yard scramble.
Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels also left his mark. His first NFL pass lofted over Austin Ekeler's head, but he quickly regained his composure. On the Commanders' third play from scrimmage, Daniels found wideout Dyami Brown for a 42-yard gain after calling the play himself. In a poised display, Daniels capped the drive by running into the end zone from 3 yards out, celebrating by handing the ball to his mother. He ended his night 2 of 3 for 45 yards and that lone touchdown run.
Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. Make Their Early Imprint
No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye and No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. made their debuts on Thursday night. Maye, albeit in limited action, was efficient. He completed two of his three attempts for 19 yards, with his first NFL attempt being a third-and-12 conversion to Antonio Gipson.
Michael Penix Jr. played five possessions in the first half of Friday night's preseason opener against Miami. Penix led the Falcons to two scoring drives and completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards, including a spectacular 41-yard completion to Chris Blair. His calm under pressure and ability to move the Falcons downfield stood out in his initial outing.
J.J. McCarthy’s Rollercoaster Debut
Sunday saw No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy enter the fray for the Vikings against the Raiders. McCarthy's debut was a mixed bag, filled with highs and lows. His first pass attempt was an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor, but his second throw resulted in an interception by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. However, McCarthy showcased resilience and exceptional arm talent, rebounding to throw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson early in the second half. He later added another touchdown and concluded his day with 188 yards on 11 of 17 passing.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell praised McCarthy’s ability to recover from the early interception, saying, “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive.”
Bo Nix Leads Denver to Multiple Scores
The No. 12 overall pick, Bo Nix, took command of the Denver Broncos during their third possession. Nix led an offense that scored on four out of five drives, the only blemish being a fumble following a completed pass. He finished with an impressive 15 of 21 for 125 yards, including running for an 11-yard gain and throwing his first touchdown pass to Marvin Mims. Reflecting on his 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.”
Rookies Impress Across the Board
Sam Cosmi highlighted the calmness and command demonstrated by Jayden Daniels, remarking, “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.' So, I think everybody should be very excited just from that little sneak peek right there. I know I am. I know the guys are fired up. I think we got a dude back there.”
Raheem Morris echoed similar sentiments about J.J. McCarthy, noting, “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 rookies' collective preseason performances have set a high bar and generated excitement for the future, as teams and fans alike eagerly await what’s next for these young stars.