The recent NFL preseason showcased a fascinating glimpse into the league’s future, as five first-round rookie quarterbacks delivered promising performances in their debuts. The young guns, including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy, gave fans and analysts plenty to discuss.
Caleb Williams Shows Glimpses of Brilliance
Caleb Williams, starting for the Chicago Bears, made an instant impression. He converted a critical third-and-long situation by connecting with wide receiver D.J. Moore for a vital 12-yard gain. Williams then demonstrated his deep-throw capability with a stunning 42-yard pass to running back D'Andre Swift. Although the drive stalled in the red zone, Cairo Santos salvaged it with a 30-yard field goal. Williams completed his short stint with a respectable 4 of 7 for 95 yards, also adding a 13-yard scramble to his tally.
Jayden Daniels' Dual Threat
Jayden Daniels also made an impactful debut. Though his first pass attempt sailed over Austin Ekeler's head, Daniels quickly bounced back, connecting with wideout Dyami Brown for a dramatic 42-yard gain. Daniels capped off the drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, ending his night with 2 of 3 passing for 45 yards and one touchdown run.
Drake Maye's Poised Performance
Drake Maye exhibited poise and precision, completing two of his three attempts for 19 yards. His first NFL pass, a third-and-12 conversion to Antonio Gipson, was particularly noteworthy.
Michael Penix Jr. Commands the Field
Michael Penix Jr. played an extensive role, guiding the Falcons through five first-half possessions against Miami. Despite the pressure, Penix Jr. led Atlanta to two scoring drives. His crisp passing, including a notable 41-yard completion to Chris Blair, resulted in a solid performance where he completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards.
J.J. McCarthy's Up-and-Down Night
J.J. McCarthy had a rollercoaster debut, kicking off with an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor. His second throw, however, was intercepted by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Yet, McCarthy recovered and threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson early in the second half. He rounded off his performance with 188 yards on 11 of 17 passing.
Bo Nix Leads Broncos' Efficient Offense
Not to be outdone, Bo Nix engineered an efficient offense for the Denver Broncos, leading them to score on four out of five drives. Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and exhibited his mobility by running for an 11-yard gain. His crowning moment came with his first professional touchdown pass to Marvin Mims.
Coaches and Teammates Weigh In
Kevin O’Connell, impressed by McCarthy's resilience, remarked, “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive.” Meanwhile, Denver’s Bo Nix received glowing praise from his own assessment: “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.”
Sam Cosmi couldn't hide his excitement about his rookie quarterback, sharing, “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 also expressed his satisfaction with his rookie's performance, saying, “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.”
As these first-round quarterbacks continue to develop, their initial performances give fans a reason to be excited about the future. The glimpses of talent, coupled with their earliest professional experiences, suggest that the next wave of NFL quarterbacks might just have the potential to impress and elevate the game.