The future of the NFL appears to be in good hands as five first-round rookie quarterbacks showcased their talents during their preseason debuts, leaving fans and experts alike eagerly anticipating the regular season.
Caleb Williams Shines for the Bears
Starting for the Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams wasted no time in making an impression. Facing a third-and-long situation, Williams connected with wide receiver D.J. Moore for a crucial 12-yard gain, displaying poise under pressure. He then followed this up with a stunning 42-yard pass to running back D'Andre Swift. Although the drive ultimately ended in a red zone stop, Cairo Santos managed to salvage points with a 30-yard field goal.
Williams finished his brief stint 4 of 7 for 95 yards, adding a 13-yard scramble to his efforts. His performance, albeit short, left fans optimistic about his potential moving forward.
Jayden Daniels Makes His Mark
Jayden Daniels experienced a mixed start, with his first NFL pass sailing over Austin Ekeler's head. However, he quickly recovered, finding wideout Dyami Brown for a 42-yard gain. Daniels capped off the drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, showcasing his dual-threat capability.
Concluding his night, Daniels completed 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards while also notching a touchdown run. His ability to bounce back from early jitters caught the eye of coaches and spectators alike.
Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. Show Promise
Drake Maye's debut was understated yet efficient. Completing two of his three attempts for 19 yards, his highlight came when he converted a third-and-12 to Antonio Gipson. Though his playing time was limited, Maye demonstrated the calm and composure needed at the professional level.
Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. had a more extended audition, playing five possessions for the Atlanta Falcons. Leading his team to two scoring drives, Penix completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards. A 41-yard pass to Chris Blair was the standout moment of his performance, giving fans a glimpse of his big-play potential.
J.J. McCarthy's Rollercoaster Debut
J.J. McCarthy's first pass attempt turned into an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor, but his second throw was intercepted by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Despite this setback, McCarthy redeemed himself with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson early in the second half. He concluded his day with 11 of 17 passing for 188 yards.
Kevin O'Connell spoke highly of McCarthy’s resilience, stating, “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive.”
Bo Nix Leads the Broncos
Bo Nix had perhaps the most comprehensive debut among the rookies. Leading the Denver Broncos to scores on four out of five drives, Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards. He also displayed some mobility with an 11-yard scramble and threw a touchdown pass to Marvin Mims.
“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,” Nix remarked, reflecting on the team's performance.
Coaches and Teammates React
Raheem Morris had positive feedback on another unnamed first-round quarterback's progression, stating, “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.”
Teammate Sam Cosmi was also impressed, adding, “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.”
As these young quarterbacks continue to grow and develop, their preseason performances have already sparked significant excitement and optimism for the future. With their talent on full display, fans and teams alike have plenty to look forward to this NFL season.