NFL Analysis

8/26/24

7 min read

2024 NFL Preseason: Grading Week 3 Rookie QB Performances

By Ian Valentino

NFL/NFL Draft Analyst
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws during the first half against the Washington Commanders at Commanders Field. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports.

The 2024 NFL preseason is over, and we're finally looking forward to the regular season kicking off next Thursday night. Before completely turning the page on the preseason, we're looking at the rookie quarterbacks. 

Below, we grade the preseason Week 3 performances of every rookie quarterback who threw at least 10 passes. Unfortunately, the first-round cast of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and J.J. McCarthy did not participate this week, so we looked beyond the first round for our grades. 

Only Drake Maye played for the first-round crew. Several rookies got extended runs as veterans sat. 

>> READ MORE: Preseason Week 3 Winners, Losers

NFL Preseason Week 3 Rookie Quarterback Grades

Our grading scale is typical of A through F, where C defines average. To help avoid overreacting to a tiny sample size, we only considered rookies who threw the ball at least 10 times and are likely to make a team's top three final quarterbacks.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots: A

With Jacoby Brissett suffering a shoulder injury during the first quarter against Washington, this became a more important showing for Drake Maye. Maye was awesome, playing well beyond his stats and showing off the ceiling, which earned him the opportunity to be the third overall pick. If it weren't for a series of penalties by teammates, Maye would've had jaw-dropping numbers in limited playing time.

Completing 13-of-20 attempts for 126 yards and one touchdown, the most notable part of Maye's showing was taking zero sacks. Maye was creative but in control, harnessing the playmaking trait that gives him elite upside. This was the game where the comparisons to Justin Herbert made a lot of sense, and Patriots fans should be excited about what's to come.

Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints: A

Spencer Rattler's stat line wasn't the best, completing only seven of his 13 attempts, but he capped off his preseason with another good showing. Had Rattler not been taken in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he'd be receiving a lot more hype. He's looked the part of a starting NFL quarterback throughout this preseason.

The Saints challenged Rattler with several different alignments and layers of reads, and Rattler connected on each task. He showed the ability to quickly scan the defense, reset his feet, and throw accurate passes on his secondary reads. While you'd expect someone with multiple years of starting experience in college to process effectively, Rattler looked like he was in full control against the Titans' second team.

He capped off his performance with a perfect 21-yard touchdown pass, a textbook display of using touch to place a ball into a receiver's chest before the defender arrives. It's only a matter of time before we see Rattler playing on Sundays in the regular season. 

Joe Milton, New England Patriots:  D-

While Joe Milton's athleticism and strong arm are commendable, his footwork, lack of touch, and throwing motion significantly harm his ability to consistently throw catchable passes. Any time Milton throws a completion beyond 10 yards, it is a surprise. Milton's five-for-17 stat line had far too many missed opportunities for the Patriots to feel good about his ability to play anytime soon.

Writing off Milton completely as an NFL talent wouldn't be fair, though. He is a stellar athlete, adding 22 yards on the ground on scrambles. While he'll never become a viable starter without a historic development in throwing consistency, he'll continue to be intriguing for teams to give reps to and potentially use as an emergency option.

If nothing else, he offers a couple of high-end physical traits that can buy him more opportunities.

Devin Leary, Baltimore Ravens: F

It was surprising to see Baltimore take Devin Leary in the sixth round of the draft, especially over Michael Pratt and Jason Bean, and the preseason hasn't brought justice to the initial skepticism. Leary was awful against Green Bay, tossing two interceptions and taking a 28-yard sack. He completed only six of his 13 pass attempts.

The game moves too quickly for Leary to process, and his strong arm isn't enough to overcome scattershot accuracy. He incorrectly pulled an RPO one time as well, taking a big hit from behind. His erratic decision-making is a byproduct of someone who just isn't ready for this level of speed all around him.

He still could make Baltimore's practice squad as a developmental arm, but the Ravens should look for a veteran to add as the emergency quarterback on game day. 

Michael Pratt, Green Bay Packers: C-

Week 3 wasn't a disaster for Michael Pratt, but he's fortunate his competition for the Packers' QB2 job, Sean Clifford, played much worse. Pratt completed eight of his 12 attempts for 80 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. But his play was defined by extremes and not consistency.

Only two of his 12 attempts were beyond 10 yards, while five were behind the line of scrimmage. The interception thrown was terrible, as he hurriedly tossed a pass directly to defender Trenton Simpson as pressure mounted.

His 18-yard touchdown pass to Bo Melton on third and 4 was a major highlight for Pratt's entire preseason but was a fleeting moment in this matchup against Baltimore. It might be enough to win him the top backup job, proving he has the touch and poise to attack a contested catch opportunity for a big play.

Jack Plummer, Carolina Panthers: A

After Bryce Young left the Panthers' game with his impressive showing, Jack Plummer did as well as he could to lock in the team's QB3 role behind Young and Andy Dalton. The rookie from Louisville stood strong in the pocket and delivered repeated dimes to all levels of the field. He completed all but seven of his 28 attempts, totaling 278 passing yards and two touchdowns with only one sack.

Plummer's arm certainly passes any test. Not only is his velocity good, but he showed flexibility and touch while on the move to threaten defenses with his legs. His unexpected athleticism and creativity can lead to a long NFL career. 

There were a few standout moments for Plummer, including a 36-yard deep touchdown pass to Jalen Coker up the sideline. The play above is even better, as Plummer side-stepped pressure, then moved up in the pocket before delivering a feathery pass over a defender for a first down. Everything looked natural and second nature to Plummer, which is incredibly impressive.

Austin Reed, Chicago Bears: B

Chicago Bears rookie Austin Reed came from a pass-heavy offense at Western Kentucky, and his comfort chucking the ball around the field translated well in Week 3. Reed hit on several chunk throws and contributed to back-to-back touchdown drives to start the second half. His six-yard touchdown toss to Tommy Sweeney came on a rollout where Reed delivered a dart while on the move.

Reed's willingness to grip it and rip it resulted in three 12-plus yard gains. These chunk plays at least show the possibility Reed can be a viable emergency option for a QB-needy team. Considering Reed played after both Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien, that opportunity might not be in Chicago this season. But his film was good enough for another needy team to keep Reed on speed dial or the practice squad.

Tags: Austin Reed, Devin Leary, Drake Maye See More

Ian Valentino

NFL/NFL Draft Analyst

Ian Valentino is an NFL and NFL draft contributor for The 33rd Team. He has covered all aspects of the NFL since 2013. He's previously provided scouting services to the NFL, XFL and CFL. He also has written for Bleacher Report, Complex Sports and Pro Football Network.

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