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.
Caleb Williams Shines for the Bears
Caleb Williams, starting for the Chicago Bears, showed poise beyond his years. He successfully converted a crucial third-and-long by connecting with wide receiver D.J. Moore for a 12-yard gain, immediately demonstrating his ability to handle pressure situations. Williams then followed it up with a spectacular 42-yard pass to running back D'Andre Swift. The Bears’ drive culminated in a red zone stop, but kicker Cairo Santos managed to salvage the drive with a 30-yard field goal. Williams ended his stint with solid stats, going 4 of 7 for 95 yards, along with a notable 13-yard scramble.
Jayden Daniels' Promising Start
Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels had an interesting start to his NFL career, albeit a less-than-perfect one. His first pass lofted over the head of running back Austin Ekeler, an inauspicious beginning. However, Daniels rebounded by finding wideout Dyami Brown for a 42-yard gain and capping off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. He concluded his brief showing 2 of 3 for 45 yards and one touchdown run.
Drake Maye’s Efficient Performance
Drake Maye completed two of his three attempts for 19 yards, including a significant third-and-12 conversion to Antonio Gipson. Though his time on the field was brief, Maye demonstrated his effectiveness and ability to make critical plays.
Michael Penix Jr. Leads the Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. was given more time to showcase his talent, playing five possessions in the first half against Miami. He managed to lead the Falcons to two scoring drives, completing 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards. His standout moment came with a 41-yard pass to Chris Blair, reflecting his knack for big plays.
J.J. McCarthy’s Rollercoaster Debut
J.J. McCarthy had a mixed performance. His first pass attempt resulted in an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor. However, disaster struck with his second throw, as it was intercepted by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Not dwelling on the mistake, McCarthy bounced back, throwing a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson early in the second half. He concluded his day with 188 yards on 11 of 17 passing, showcasing both his potential and areas needing refinement. “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive,” noted coach Kevin O'Connell.
Bo Nix’s Commanding Control
Bo Nix displayed a commanding control over the Denver Broncos’ offense, orchestrating scores on four out of the five drives he led. Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and augmented his stat line with an 11-yard run. His first touchdown pass went to Marvin Mims, solidifying a strong preseason debut. Reflecting on the game, 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.”
Offensive lineman Sam Cosmi also praised Nix’s composure during a pivotal moment, stating, “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.”
Maintaining composure under pressure seems to be a shared attribute among these rookie quarterbacks. Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris remarked on another performance, “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 debuts of these five first-round rookie quarterbacks not only provided exciting moments and flashes of brilliance but also laid a foundation of optimism for their respective teams. With their performances, these young signal-callers have given fans much to look forward to as the season approaches.