Grading rookie quarterback’s preseasons: Williams, Daniels, Maye, Nix

The preseason came to an end from Foxborough on Sunday night, and the prime time game featured teams that had two of the top three picks in the NFL Draft. The New England Patriots and Washington Commanders took quarterbacks with their first round picks, and both of their young gunslingers look ready to take the starting role, but how is the rest of the rookie QB class looking?

Caleb Wiliams, Chicago Bears ( No. 1 overall pick)

The former USC Trojan was a starter before he even took a snap. Chicago has been in desperate need of a shake up for a long time, and they think Caleb Williams is just the man for the job. He has been the projected No. 1 pick for a few years now, and in the preseason he gave us glimpses of why he is expected put the Bears back on the map. He only played a handful of snaps in the first two preseason games, but that was enough to get the Windy City buzzing with excitement. He sat the preseason finale, but his highlight drive came against the Cincinnati Bengals when he had a dime that he put on the numbers of Rome Odunze before running in a 7 yard TD. He’s a rookie, and his preseason was far from perfect, but Chicago looks like they have their QB of the future, and their QB of the now.

Grade: B

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

Washington, a lot like Chicago, has needed some stability at the QB position for a long time. Did they finally find their man in Jayden Daniels? Dan Quinn seems to think so. After the second game of the preseason, the new head coach in the nation’s capital was confident in his rookie to name him the starter. He played a drive in the preseason opener against the Jets, and finished his only possession with a three yard scramble for a TD after connecting Dymai Brown on a 42 yard bomb. We got a better look at him in the second game against the Dolphins in which he played two series, and led the Commanders into field goal range on both possessions. They only hit one of those two FGs but Daniels was 10/12 for 78 yards in his short time on the field. He didn’t play the preseason finale after being named the starter, but he was no doubt he was the most consistent rookie over the last few weeks.

Grade: A

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

The search for Tom Brady’s incumbent continues in New England, but maybe, just maybe they might have found their man. Drake Maye has yet to be named the starter, and may not be named the starter for Week 1, but it’s not because of what he did or didn’t do on the field. He played one series against the Panthers in the opener, coming on the field after Jacoby Brissett who started each of the games for NE. He went 2/3 for 19 yards on a drive that we didn’t see a whole lot from him. In the next game against the Eagles, he came on the field in the second quarter and led back-to-back scoring drives as he started to show not just his pocket presence, but his ability to make plays with his legs. He had a 7 yard rushing TD for his first NFL score, but saved his best for last. On his first drive against the Commanders Sunday night, he converted a 3rd and long with his legs, and then had two gorgeous touch passes to move the Pats down the field before Kevin Harris took an 18 yard catch and run to the house. New England has been craving a QB like Maye. Someone who can make the throws in the pocket but create when the play breaks down. Maye might be ready to start, but I’m not sure if the Pats are ready for him to start.

Grade: A-

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

We only saw Penix Jr. for one game before Raheem Morris had seen enough of his rookie quarterback. It was a strange decision that what met with a lot of confusion. Why not give the rookie more snaps if the plan is not to play him this season? And if he does play because big money offseason signing Kirk Cousins gets injured, then will the decision to not play him more come back to bite the Falcons? He went 9/16 for 104 yards and showed some big promise for the years to come, but that was all we saw of him this preseason. Perhaps the buzz was so big in Atlanta that Morris sat the rookie to protect Penix and Cousins at the same time. Either way I would have loved to see Penix a little more, so his grade is really not reflection on him, if not the Falcons.

Grade: B-

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

Devastating to see J.J. McCarthy go down in the preseason with an injury that will keep him out for his entire rookie year. He had an eventful first game against the Raiders, throwing an interception on his third pass of his opening drive. He bounced back and threw a couple of long TD passes and settled down after getting his feathers ruffled on his first possession. It looked like he was making a play for the starting job but a torn meniscus will sideline for him the year.

Grade: Not available

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (No. 12 overall pick)

The 24 year old rookie needed just two games to make an impression on Sean Payton. He was named the starter after the second game of the preseason and sat out the final tune up game this weekend. Nix might be the most matured QB in the rookie class after being a starting quarterback five season in college. He led three scoring drives in his first game against the Colts while going 15/21 and throwing a TD. He then went 8/9 for 80 yards and threw a TD after getting the start against the Green Bay Packers. Nix showed maturity, experience and poise in his two preseason games. Coach Payton is know as a QB coach, and he will be hoping to have his next Drew Brees under center after a bumpy first season in the Mile High City.

Grade: A

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

The Saints swaped QBs through their final game against the Tennessee Titans which would suggest they still had an open competition for the back up job in the Bayou. Rookie, Spencer Rattler played well, going 7/13 for 105 yards and throwing a TD in a high scoring against from the Ceasars Super Dome. It’s a good end to the preseason after starting strong but dipping in the second game. Rattler might have done enough in the last game to secure his spot on the 53 man roster.

Grade: C+

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

The former Seminole suffered a nasty injury last season, and is still recovering so he didn’t play a single snap of preseason.

Grade: Not Available

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

Milton gave Pats fans a lot to talk about in his debut for New England. He came on for the final two drives in the opener against the Panthers and sealed the game with a field goal and a touchdown in back-to-back drives. He showed off his unique arm strength and his mobility going 4/6 for 54 yards with a TD and running for another 22 yards on 5 rushes. His numbers got dipped after his debut, going 2/7 for 20 yards in the game against Philly, and then 5/17 for 78 yards on Sunday against the Commanders. He’s not going to be the starter, but it’s going to fun to see how this freak of a QB progresses over the next couple years.

Grade: C

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

Not exactly the end to the preseason that the rookie was hoping for. He went just 6/13 for 34 yards and threw 2 INTs. He struggled in his debut for the Ravens, and only played a series late in the second game against Atlanta. It might be tough for Leary to make the roster with the the reigning MVP and Josh Johnson locked in for the back up job.

Grade: D