Grading rookie quarterbacks after first week of NFL Preseason: Williams, Daniels, Maye, Milton, Nix, Penix Jr.

While we may be pumped that the NFL preseason is giving our first taste of football since February, the harsh reality is these games don’t really get us pumped like a regular season game. After the first few minutes, maybe the first quarter we barely know who any of the players fighting for third or fourth string roster spots are, unless you are a total football genius.

Rookie QBs make their debuts

The one thing preseason does do, other than wet our whistle to quench a six month long thirst, is giving us our first glimpse of rookie quarterbacks. QBs are always the headliners of a team, especially these days and after C.J. Stroud showed us just how good a rookie quarterback can be in his first NFL year, there will be even more attention centered around rookie gunslingers.

There were 11 quarterbacks taken in this spring’s NFL Draft. Some were brought in to be the future faces of the franchise, others were brought in to back-up and existing quarterback, and others were brought

Whether a QB was drafted in the first few picks of the first round or were made to wait until the late round of the last day, each rookie QB will get their first taste of NFL action in the preseason. This is how the 2024 quarterback class did after the first week of exhibition games.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (No 1 overall pick)

4/7 for 95 yards, 101.8 passer rating, 1 rush for 13 yards

After sitting and watching from the sidelines in the Hall of Fame Game, Caleb Williams finally gave Bears fans what they have been craving to see. He played two series, leading the offense to field goals on both occasions. The second drive started on the CHI 3 yard line and in his two series had a couple of big completions to set up field goals and put the Bears up with an early lead. He showed great pocket presence and the ability to make throws on the run. Good start for Williams, only way it could have been better was if he punched the Bears into the end zone.

Grade: B+

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (No. 2 overall pick)

2/3 for 45 yards, 109.7 passer rating, 1 rush for 3 yards and a TD

The second round pick played just one drive, the opening one, against the Jets. He threw three passes on that drive, including a 42 yard strike to Dyami Brown which set up a three yard TD run from Daniels to bring an end to his one and only drive. It was a short sample size, but so far so good for the No. 2 pick who will more than likely be starting Week 1.

Grade: A

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (No. 3 overall pick)

2/3 for 19 yards, 84.0 passer rating, 0 rushes

Jacoby Brissett got the start against the Panthers, but played just one series before Maye took over under center. In his only series, he threw three passes, completing two of them on short passes to the left side. Brissett and Maye will likely be fighting for the QB1 spot until Week 1, but watch out for the sixth round pick Joe Milton who was the best looking QB on the field over the weekend.

Grade: C+

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (No. 8 overall pick)

9/16 for 104 yards, 76.0 passer rating, 0 rushes

Penix is going to have an awful lot of attention surrounding him during the preseason. Unless something unexpected happens, Penix isn’t going to play much this season, so this will probably be the most we are going see him this season with Kirk Cousins locked in as the starter. He played five drives, and got progressively better in each of the first four drives. Atlanta went three and out to start, then a fumble before Penix led his first scoring drive with a 41 yard bomb to put ATL in field goal range. The Falcons TD drive came after an interception on the Miami 16 yard line. His pass to Fitzpatrick almost went for TD, but the WR was cut down at the one. On 4th and Goal from the 1, the Falcons punched it across the goal line thanks to Carlos Washington Jr.

Grade: B

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (No. 10 overall pick)

11/17 for 188 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 116.8 passer rating, 2 rushes for 18 yards

McCarthy didn’t throw the ball much last year with the National Champion Michigan Wolverines. There are plenty of question marks surrounding him and his Top 10 selection. We saw the good and the bad from McCarthy who played a quarter and a half. In that time he was picked off on the third pass on his first drive, but he bounced back with a couple deep strikes that went for TDs. Tough stuff from the national champ who bounced back after a rough start. The QB competition is up for grabs in Minnesota, and this performance will only help the rookie.

Grade: B+

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (No. 12 overall)

15/21 for 125 yards, 1 TD, 102.3 passer rating, 3 rushes for 17 yards

If there is any QB that is more up in the air than Minnesota’s it’s Denver’s. Jarrett Stidham got the start, but had two empty possessions, one that ended in an interception. Nix came on for a couple quarters of action and he led the Broncos on four scoring drives in five tries. Two of those ended in TDs, two in FGs and the only drive that didn’t result in points ended on a fumble by one of Nix’s receivers. He threw for a TD and set up another one. Good showing from Nix who is going to make it tough for Sean Payton to choose against him if he continues to play like he did against Indy.

Grade: A

Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints (No. 150 overall pick)

9/14 for 70 yards, 63.4 passer rating, 2 rushes for 8 yards and a TD

Pretty good start to preseason for the former South Carolina Gamecock. He scored the only Saints touchdown of the night with a four yard run on his first drive of the game. Not only did he get the Saints into the end zone, he had a chance to run the Two Minute drill and set up the game winning field goal with 5 seconds on the clock. Could have made a few more throws, but overall a solid showing for the QB who is fighting for the back up spot in New Orleans.

Grade: B+

Jordan Travis, New York Jets (No. 171 overall pick)

DNP

Joe Milton, New England Patriots (No. 193 overall pick)

4/6 for 54 yards and 1 TD, 134.7 passer rating, 5 rushes for 22 yards ]

As a sixth round pick, Milton has the opportunity to open a few eyes in the preseason. It’s unlikely he’s going to take the QB1 spot even if he has a couple more games like he did against the Panthers. He played the final two series of the game and got the Pats on the board twice, once with a FG and once with a deep ball for the knock out blow early in the fourth quarter. He had a couple of spectacular runs, the long ball to JaQuae Jackson and overall a really impressive performance, albeit against the guys lower down the depth chart.

Grade: A+

Devin Leary, Baltimore Ravens (No. 216 overall pick)

6/10 for 37 yards, 67.5 passer rating, 1 rush for 1 yard and a TD

Leary struggled in his first three drives against an Eagles defense that looked like they were in midseason form. Three straight three-and-outs didn’t do him any favors, going 1/4 for -1 yards and taking a sack. He would dink and dunk his way down the field, and convert a 4th and 2 early in the fourth quarter. That drive would end in a QB sneak for a TD to end the night on a good note, but not a great debut for the newest Baltimore QB.

Grade: C-

Michael Pratt, Green Bay Packers (No 245 overall pick)

5/7 for 46 yards, 89.0 passer rating

Pratt came into the game in the third quarter when Green Bay was already throughly in command. The Packers were more intent on running the ball as they protected their lead, but Pratt made a couple throws to keep drives alive. His first drive resulted in a field goal, and his last drive ended in him kneeling the clock out after the run game picked up a few first downs to keep the clock running. We didn’t get to see much from the last QB taken, but at least he closed out the game, and will live to see another game.

Grade: B-