The 2024 NFL Draft tied a league record for the most first-round quarterbacks — and the majority of those six signal-callers saw their second pro action this week during Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t play Michael Penix Jr. on Saturday, while Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is out for the season after tearing his meniscus last week. But the rest of this year’s Round 1 QB class has already played or is expected to suit up later this weekend.
How did each first-round quarterback fare in their Week 2 snaps?
How Did the NFL’s First-Round Rookie QBs Perform in Preseason Week 2?
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Week 2 stat line: 6-of-13 for 75 yards, 1 sack, 7 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
It’s not as if we needed more confirmation on Caleb Williams after the USC product won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, went No. 1 overall in April’s draft, and looked more than comfortable in his first preseason game.
But the new Bears quarterback still put on a show against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday afternoon.
Williams got off to a slow start, going 0-for-3 on his first drive while leading the Bears to three straight three-and-outs to begin Week 2. He threw a beautiful deep ball to wide receiver Tyler Scott on Chicago’s fourth drive, resulting in a 43-yard defensive pass interference call and an eventual field goal.
But Williams saved his best for the Bears’ final drive before halftime. After dropping back near midfield, Williams spun left to evade pressure, then threw on the run, dropping a 45-yard gem into the arms of fellow first-round rookie Rome Odunze.
CALEB WILLIAMS TO ROME ODUNZE 🤯pic.twitter.com/KJx5kreq4Y
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 17, 2024
The play highlighted everything Williams brings to the table: pocket mobility, play extension, creation ability, and insane arm talent. The “generational prospect” label gets thrown around far too often, but Williams is just that.
Three players later, Williams dropped back in an empty formation from the Bengals’ seven-yard line. After scanning the field for receivers, he felt pressure from behind and to his right, essentially ran in a full circle to evade pass rushers, and then scampered into the end zone for a touchdown.
Williams is an absolute magician. Hyperbole is the most common sin during the NFL preseason, but how can you watch Williams and not see Patrick Mahomes?
Week 3 preseason: at Kansas City Chiefs (Friday, Aug. 23, 7:20 p.m. ET)
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Week 2 stat line: 10-of-12 for 78 yards, 13 rushing yards
After he attempted just three passes in their preseason opener, the Commanders kept the No. 2 overall pick on the field for 12 attempts against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday.
The reigning Heisman winner was efficient with his passes, hitting multiple quick hitters while leading Washington to five first downs. Daniels worked through his progressions and found open receivers, regularly showing solid ball placement on his throws.
On the Commanders’ second drive, Daniels froze Miami’s linebacker with a play-action fake, then quickly found tight end John Bates in a soft middle spot of the Dolphins’ zone defense.
Daniels is expected to be Washington’s QB1 to open the regular season; as such, he’s unlikely to play in the club’s preseason finale.
If this ends Daniels’ exhibition run, consider it a successful showing. More than anything, Daniels looked posted in his limited action. He never played too quickly, forced throws, or wilted under pressure.
In Week 1, Daniels showed off his deep ball and zone-read capabilities. Week 2 was centered around consistency and fast processing. Daniels did everything the Commanders could’ve wanted to see (in an admittedly small sample).
Week 3 preseason: vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m. ET)
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Week 2 stat line: 6-of-11 for 47 yards, 1 sack, 15 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
The Patriots strangely gave Drake Maye just one drive in their Week 1 preseason game against the Houston Texans. Fortunately, New England allowed the No. 3 overall pick to stay on the field for four series against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
Maye’s statistics belie his confidence and calm in his second NFL action. Playing with most of the Patriots’ starting offensive line, Maye wasn’t besieged by oncoming rushers; pressured five times, the UNC product took just one sack.
Maye layered several throws over defenders to find his intended receiver and showed off his mobility with 15 rushing yards and a rushing score on a zone read near the goal line. His best throw will show up as an incompletion in the box score, as fellow rookie Javon Baker couldn’t haul in a gorgeous vertical shot.
I am SO disappointed Javon Baker didn't come down with this. What a gorgeous throw by Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/LTQw0sGRfO
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 16, 2024
Veteran Jacoby Brissett is still in line to be the Patriots’ Week 1 starter, according to Pro Football Network’s Dakota Randall. Maye still isn’t practicing with New England’s first-team offensive line, a clear indication that Brissett is the favorite for starting duties when the Patriots face the Cincinnati Bengals to open the 2024 campaign.
“For me, we always talk about competition, and that’s at all spots,” head coach Jerod Mayo said when asked if New England’s offensive line struggled would keep Maye out of the lineup. “So, even if Drake beats out Jacoby, I mean, he earned that role. And we don’t really take that into consideration.
“When he’s ready to go, and if he’s better than Jacoby, then he’ll play. He’ll start.”
Week 3 preseason: at Washington Commanders (Sunday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m. ET)
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Penix was among the 36 Falcons who didn’t suit up for Saturday’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. With starter Kirk Cousins also sitting out, Atlanta used Taylor Heinicke and undrafted rookie free agent John Paddock at quarterback for Week 2.
The Falcons confirmed that Penix doesn’t have an injury. Head coach Raheem Morris said that the Falcons saw enough from the No. 8 overall pick in Week 1 that they didn’t feel the need to play him. Penix will not suit up for Atlanta’s preseason finale, either, according to The Score’s Jordan Schultz.
Perhaps watching McCarthy suffer a season-ending injury in the Vikings’ first preseason contest affected the Falcons’ thinking with Penix. Still, it’s odd that Atlanta doesn’t want to give the Washington product as many snaps as possible, given that he’s unlikely to see the field — barring a Cousins injury — for at least two years.
Week 3 preseason: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Friday, Aug. 23, 6 p.m. ET)
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Week 2 stat line: 8-of-9 for 80 yards, 1 TD, 12 rushing yards
Bo Nix started his first preseason game as a Denver Bronco on Sunday night. Based on how the No. 12 overall pick played against the Green Bay Packers, it’s fair to expect Nix to be under center when Denver plays the Seattle Seahawks to open the regular season.
Nix handled two series in Week 2, both of which ended in Broncos scores. On Denver’s first series, Nix appeared to have hit running back Javonte Williams for a 15-yard touchdown after several improvisational moves but was ruled to have crossed the line of scrimmage before getting the pass off.
Bo Nix TD throw! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lyCOsb0YOa
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 19, 2024
On his next drive, Nix converted a 3rd-and-9 after stepping up in the pocket, firing an accurate pass into tight coverage, and finding wideout Tim Patrick, who’d sat down in zone coverage.
After an offensive holding call put the Broncos in a 1st-and-20, Nix got 10 yards back with a first-down scramble, then hit Courtland Sutton on a 23-yard strike to Denver 1st-and-goal from Green Bay’s four-yard line. On the next play, Nix used play-action and avoided pressure, quickly hitting Patrick for a TD while falling away from an incoming pass rusher.
Nix’s over-the-line throw was his only incompletion. Admittedly, Nix was facing the Packers’ backup defense. But he was efficient and deliberate on Sunday night and looked far more comfortable than he did in Denver’s preseason opener. Sean Payton likely saw enough to name Nix the Broncos’ starting quarterback.
Week 3 preseason: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, Aug. 25, 12 p.m. ET)
