NFL Analysis
8/12/24
7 min read
2024 NFL Preseason: Grading Week 1 Rookie QB Performances
The NFL is finally back, and Week 1 of the preseason was at least enough to get the blood flowing through our football-loving veins. A few teams gave their first-team offense a chance to get a series or two in, but our focus was on the rookie quarterbacks. All six first-round quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft saw some action.
Although each saw varying degrees of run time in their debut, we saw enough to provide some analysis and feedback for each. Below, we grade the preseason Week 1 performances of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and J.J. McCarthy.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Rookie Quarterback Grades
Our grading scale is typical of A through F, where C defines average. Some rookies only threw the ball a couple of times, so their grades naturally skew closer to average than extreme.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears: A-
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears: A-Caleb Williams completed four of his seven passes for 95 yards and added a 13-yard run in his playing time. He completed his first four throws before his fifth and sixth attempts were dropped. His last completion was his best, connecting with Cole Kmet for a 26-yard gain on a rollout that showed off his tremendous arm strength and accuracy.
Williams immediately looked comfortable and poised in his first NFL action. He commanded the pocket as a veteran would, avoiding panicked movements and quickly processing the field. If he was nervous or struggling, you couldn't tell.
One of the things that made Williams so special in college was his quick reaction time. That translated on several throws, as he ripped off accurate throws when he saw a potential passing lane. Chicago sustained two quality drives before Williams came off the field, and Williams' arm and legs played a big part in that success.
He failed to hit a higher grade because he couldn't find the end zone for the first time, but everything else looked smooth under Williams.
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: A-
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: A-He only played one drive, but everything went about as well as it could've for Jayden Daniels. He completed two of his three passes and added a three-yard rushing score, totaling 48 yards. The headlining play was his first completion, which went for 42 yards on third down.
It’s fitting that Jayden Daniels first preseason completion was on a deep ball and his first touchdown was on a QB run. He was the most explosive passer and runner in all of college football last year. THAT’S HOW YOU HEISMAN.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 10, 2024
🎥 -@nfl pic.twitter.com/dvovVFoquU
His other two passes included a missed screen toss and a quick toss behind the line of scrimmage. Daniels' speed was on full display on a read-option where the Jets failed to have a "force" defender present in case Daniels kept the ball. While the missed screen toss wasn't great, the former LSU star more than made up for the errant throw with two explosive plays.
His deep ball will be a big factor throughout his career. Washington went five-wide on third-and-six, trusting Daniels to stand in the pocket and deliver a contested vertical pass. It was right on the money to Dyami Brown, and the Commanders hope to see plenty more of these big plays each week.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots: D
Drake Maye, New England Patriots: DLike Daniels, Drake Maye had only three passing attempts. One of those was a screen pass, which Maye actually completed. His second attempt was a good example of Maye playing to his scouting report.
Physically gifted and comfortable working under center, Maye dropped back to sell play action with two receivers and two tight ends. Everything from his drop to how he quickly reset his body to find an open receiver checked the box of what the play should look like. But Maye took a quarter-second too long to release the ball and then misfired the throw over the receiver's head.
Maye's accuracy can be fleeting. His marvelous playmaking helps overcome an inconsistent passing motion and ball placement, but it's misses like Maye's second attempt that show an area for improvement.
His final play was a completion but was a mere swing pass to the running back to move the ball a bit.
Maye didn't completely fail, but the sample size was tiny. His lone test featured some good foundational aspects, but his miss effectively killed the Patriots' drive.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings: B
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings: BThe Minnesota Vikings got the entire J.J. McCarthy experience on 17 pass attempts against the Las Vegas Raiders. McCarthy completed 11 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He was one-of-three for 18 yards and an interception against the Raiders' starters and second-string defense.
The interception was definitely a bad play. McCarthy tried to do too much on third down, rolling into pressure and telegraphing his throw to the only man in the area. It was an easy interception for the Raiders to make, and McCarthy has to understand when to simply throw the ball away better.
Most of what followed the mistake was much better. He stood tall in the pocket and displayed a strong, accurate arm throughout the majority of attempts. McCarthy has a knack for unleashing feathery balls that float perfectly into his receiver's chest.
Consistency is the key for McCarthy. His rushing ability and arm talent are great, but his misses are often way off target. The game didn't seem too fast for him, and he easily hit the most difficult throws he attempted, including a deep shot that went for a touchdown.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons: C+
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons: C+The Atlanta Falcons set Michael Penix Jr. up for success with his debut, calling plays that offered him quick solutions that played to his strengths. Penix, boasting a fast processor and masterful touch, converted on several key plays that had him looking like a veteran.
Mentally, Penix looked the part. He was confident in the pocket and worked through his progressions effectively, so there were no concerns about how Penix saw the game.
The odd thing with Penix is that while he's capable of making the most impressive passes, his ball placement is either on the money or nowhere close. Five of his seven incompletions were well out of reach for his target, and a few completions were to the wrong shoulder.
When Penix hurries, he relies more on his arm than proper passing mechanics, exposing his arm strength as good but not capable of hitting every passing window with ease.
Overall, it was a fine showing for Penix. He completed nine-of-16 attempts for 104 yards. His decisiveness and command of the offense were where you'd want for a veteran and collegiate star.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: B-
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: B-Bo Nix had the best numbers of the rookie class' debut performances. He looked like he was ready to win the job in Denver. It wasn't perfect, but there was more good than bad. Nix completed 15-of-21 attempts for 125 yards and one touchdown. He also had one touchdown dropped.
Nix, one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in college football history, quickly took to the offense. He knew where to look post-snap and had solutions when his primary read wasn't ready. His athleticism and strong arm allowed him to stay efficient and keep the offense moving.
While it was a positive impression, Nix's misses and the details within some successful plays were a bit concerning. He had happy feet on several dropbacks and wasn't confident enough to release some passes until he saw his receiver open. A few passes were off-target enough to completely miss or cost his receiver extra yards after the catch.
Nerves or a lack of chemistry with receivers could have contributed to those moments, but Nix will need to clean up those hiccups to avoid bigger issues in the regular season.
