Eleven quarterbacks were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. A few of them are expected to be starters in the regular season opener. A few others are still vying for specific roles this fall. But all of them deserve some attention as the preseason progresses and the actual games draw closer.
How did the first-year quarterbacks fare in Week 2 of the exhibition games? Here’s how the drafted rookie quarterbacks performed.
Despite completing less than 50 percent of his passes against the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams again turned heads with some flashy plays, including a pass to fellow rookie Rome Odunze for a deep gain after a long scramble and then a run through the backyard for a score of his own. In two preseason starts, the No. 1 draft pick has made it clear that the Chicago Bears will be a fun team to have under his direction.
While Williams has shown some sporadic but special play, Daniels of the Washington Commanders was more efficient as a pocket passer against the Miami Dolphins, making quick reads and darts down the sideline to set up two field goal drives. Daniels, a Louisiana State University product, was hit on one of his two rushes but seems to fit solidly into Washington’s fast-paced offensive design.
New England Patriots head coach Jerrod Mayo, who had heavily touted Jacoby Brissett as the front-runner for the top spot during the offseason, made it clear the competition was “not over yet” after Mayo showed tenacity and mobility in a lengthy game against the Philadelphia Eagles. While his marks in the air were unspectacular, he confidently evaded contact and made impressive scoring dashes on third down and goal.
The No. 8 overall pick looked sharp in his preseason debut making downfield throws but didn’t play at all against the Baltimore Ravens, leaving Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock to handle all the quarterback duties — the clearest sign yet that Pennis is entrenched as the No. 2 behind Kirk Cousins heading into his rookie year.
McCarthy, who was impressive as a deep-ball touch passer in his preseason debut for the Minnesota Vikings, sat out the game against the Cleveland Browns after being placed on injured reserve with a torn meniscus before the game. Nick Mullens and Jalen Hall handled the bulk of the practice while starter Sam Darnold was rested.
After showing his sharpness and agility in a strong preseason debut, Nicks started in the preseason exhibition game against Green Bay in Week 2 and largely continued that play. The first-round draft pick was on a roll from the get-go, completing all four of his passes for 26 yards on the Broncos’ opening drive. Nicks also showed off his mobility as he had to move outside of the pocket to keep the play going, throwing a touchdown pass to running back Javonte Williams on that drive. Despite a valiant effort, the rookie crossed the line of scrimmage, so the play that led to the score did not count, and Denver settled for a field goal. Nicks eventually found the end zone, leading Denver to a touchdown drive on their second series of the night. That was all he played before being replaced by Jarrett Stidham. Nicks completed all but one of his nine passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
The fifth-round pick was a pleasant surprise for the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 of the preseason, scoring the team’s only touchdown, and he’ll be on a roll on Monday against the San Francisco 49ers.
The sixth-round pick out of Florida State has yet to play in the New York Jets’ preseason as he is recovering from a serious leg injury that ended his 2023 college season, but once healthy he will be a contender for the top backup spot behind Aaron Rodgers.
The big man out of Tennessee showed impressive two-way potential in his preseason debut but had a more muted performance against the Eagles, splitting time with Bailey Zappe behind Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. He remains a contender for a spot on the final roster thanks to his tough running ability.
Leary, a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky, was the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback in the game against the Falcons, with veteran reserve Josh Johnson going 11-of-11 and undrafted rookie Emory Jones throwing a 56-yard touchdown bomb to rank third among the team’s deciding factors.
The seventh-round pick out of Tulane is competing with former Penn State starter Sean Clifford and Jordan Love for the No. 2 spot in the lineup, and he’s likely to see plenty of playing time on Sunday against the Broncos.
