The future stars of the NFL were on full display in the past week, as five rookie quarterbacks who were taken in the first round showcased their formidable talent in their preseason debuts. From impressive completions to dynamic runs, these young guns offered a tantalizing glimpse into what they could bring to the league.
Caleb Williams Shines for Bears
Caleb Williams, starting for the Chicago Bears, quickly made his mark. In a critical third-and-long situation, Williams found wide receiver D.J. Moore for a crucial 12-yard gain. Not content with that, he followed it up with a 42-yard bomb to running back D'Andre Swift. The drive may have ultimately ended in red zone frustration, but kicker Cairo Santos salvaged it with a 30-yard field goal. Williams completed his brief stint with impressive stats, going 4 of 7 for 95 yards and an additional 13-yard scramble.
Jayden Daniels Makes an Impact
Jayden Daniels, another promising rookie, had a different start when his first NFL pass sailed over Austin Ekeler's head. However, Daniels bounced back, connecting with wideout Dyami Brown for a spectacular 42-yard gain. Demonstrating his versatility, Daniels capped the drive by running into the end zone from 3 yards out. He ended his night having completed 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Drake Maye’s Efficient Performance
Drake Maye showcased his efficiency by completing two of his three attempts for 19 yards. His first NFL attempt came in a high-pressure third-and-12 situation, which he converted to Antonio Gipson.
Michael Penix Jr. Leads Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. had more time on the field, playing five possessions in the first half against the Miami Dolphins. He successfully led the Falcons to two scoring drives, completing 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards. One of his standout moments came with a 41-yard pass to Chris Blair, demonstrating his deep-throw ability.
J.J. McCarthy’s Mixed Bag
J.J. McCarthy's debut was a mixed affair. His opening pass was an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor, but his second throw resulted in an interception by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Not to be deterred, McCarthy rebounded in the second half with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson. He concluded a roller-coaster game with 188 yards on 11 of 17 passing.
Bo Nix Impresses for the Broncos
Bo Nix enjoyed a stellar day, leading the Denver Broncos on scoring drives in four out of five possessions. Nix finished with an impressive 15 of 21 for 125 yards and added an 11-yard run to his resume. He threw his first touchdown pass to Marvin Mims, further cementing his potential as a future star.
The veteran presence in the commentary box picked up on these young quarterbacks' promise and poise. “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive,” said Kevin O'Connell, reflecting on J.J. McCarthy’s ability to shake off his early mistake.
Bo Nix received glowing praise as well. “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,” he shared, summarizing the effective team effort behind his noteworthy performance.
Sam Cosmi was visibly enthused about Caleb Williams’s debut: “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 offered a reflective take on one rookie: “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.”
From the first snap to the final whistle, these rookie quarterbacks have given their teams and fans alike ample reason to look forward to the upcoming season. Their initial performances have set high expectations, and the NFL is undoubtedly in capable hands moving forward.