Rookie QB watch around the NFL
With the breaking news out of New England earlier today that the team was naming rookie quarterback Drake Maye the starter against the Texans on Sunday. Let’s take a look at how the other rookie quarterbacks from Drake Maye’s class have done so far this season. With Maye starting for New England on Sunday the NFL will have 4 rookie quarterbacks under center on Sunday. The #1 and #2 picks of this springs draft Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels have impressed so far while #12 pick Bo Nix got off to a slow start in Denver but has looked better in recent weeks.
#12 pick Bo Nix
Bo Nix has struggled the most out of the rookie quarterbacks that have been handed the reigns this season. Even with Nix’s early season struggles the Broncos find themselves in second place in the AFC West at 3-2. Through 5 games Nix has passed for 866 yards with a 61.8% completion percentage. Nix only has 3 touchdowns passing so far though to go along with 4 interceptions and a 71.4% QB rating. So while Nix hasn’t lit the league on fire to start his career he’s started to minimize his mistakes after the first couple weeks and is doing just enough to help the Broncos win football games. On a team with a stout defense like New England’s could this be the recipe for the Patriots to get back in the win column.
#1 pick Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams stepped into the NFL as one of the highest rated QB prospects in recent memory and although he had his growing pains the first couple weeks of the season he certainly looked the part of a franchise QB on Sunday against the Panthers. Williams has thrown for 1,091 yards through 5 games with 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Williams has a 61.9% completion percentage and a QB rating of 81.3 through his first 5 games. Caleb has the Bears at 3-2 similar to Bo Nix’s Broncos but Williams has taken much more of a beating doing so racking up 17 sacks already through 5 weeks compared to Nix’s 7. If the Bears can keep Williams upright and he continues to progress there’s no reason they can’t continue to rack up wins and be a competitor in the NFC wild card race.
Williams faced the same Texans defense Maye will be making his debut against and if Williams game was any indicator it could be a long afternoon for Maye and the Patriots. Caleb went 23/37 against the Texans for 174 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Demeco Ryans is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL and that has been on full display since he took over last year for the Texans. Maye will have his hands full in his career opener against one of the best units in the league.
#2 pick Jayden Daniels
Far and away the best of the rookie QB class so far has been the human highlight reel that is Jayden Daniels. Daniels has been impressive through his first 5 weeks in the NFL and has the Commanders off to a great start at 4-1 and a top the NFC East. The rookie sensation through 5 weeks has 1,135 passing yards, with a 77% completion percentage to go along with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions to this point. Daniels also has the highest of the QB ratings of the rookies at 106.3.
It hasn’t just been Daniels arm that’s been taking the league by storm he also has 300 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. If Daniels can keep up his torrid pace there’s no reason the Commanders won’t be playing meaningful football early next year.
What does any of this mean for Drake Maye? Time will tell with Maye as every team and situation is different for a rookie quarterback. However these QB’s have all shown massive growth and progress through 5 weeks so if Maye does struggle out of the gate against a tough Texans defense Patriots fan’s shouldn’t be hitting the panic button quite yet.
