Ranking 1st-round rookie QBs halfway through the preseason
The next wave of NFL quarterbacks is coming, and it's hitting with sudden impact.
Five passers were taken in the first round of this year's draft and, after two weeks of preseason action, many are looking like they can take over their team's starting job at some point this year.
Here's how the rookie QBs rank halfway through the preseason:
5. Lamar JacksonPreseason: 18-for-43, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
72 rush yards, 1 rush TD
Week 2: 7-for-15, 49 yards, 1 TD, 76.8 passer rating
Even Lamar Jackson is disappointed in Lamar Jackson's performance.
Despite having played in one more game than his rookie counterparts, the 21-year-old appears a step behind them. While the other first-round picks are hovering around a 55 percent completion rate (Sam Darnold's pacing the field at 72 percent), Jackson is completing 41 percent of his passes.
He's firmly planted behind Joe Flacco (and perhaps Robert Griffin III) as a backup, which has as much to do with Flacco's strong camp as it does Jackson's uneven preseason.
"I don't feel like I've performed at a high level yet," Jackson said after Monday's game, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley.
For a rookie making a concerted effort to establish himself as a passer rather than just a running threat, he's done little with his arm to convince the naysayers.
He's even experienced hiccups as a runner. Everyone saw his dazzling run through the Los Angeles Rams' defense in Week 1 of the preseason, but he's shown an overall lack of awareness. He's already taken six sacks and was lucky to be called down by contact before losing this fumble:
Been a rough preseason for Lamar Jackson. pic.twitter.com/oGe5nKi9YD
- Prime Bam Childress (@fearthe_beard11) August 21, 2018
There is hope, however.
After opening his Week 2 appearance 0-for-4 with a sack, he finished the half with a scoring drive and nailed this play-action rollout, high-low read to the back corner of the end zone to open the third quarter.
4. Josh RosenLamar Jackson with the pinpoint accuracy for the TD. pic.twitter.com/3kphGhkFv1
- DeShaunsMrka (@DeShaunsMrk) August 21, 2018
Preseason: 16-for-29, 148 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
Week 2: 10-for-16, 107 yards, 1 TD, 102.9 passer rating
While Jackson struggled in Week 2, Josh Rosen flourished.
After a brief and unremarkable outing in Week 1 of the preseason, the Arizona Cardinals quarterback led the offense for an extended period Friday and showed off his trademark smarts.
Rosen led three positive drives in the second quarter alone. While he was gifted 40 yards on his first series thanks to a defensive pass interference call, Rosen overcame a false start and a delay of game penalty to fire a touchdown strike to fellow rookie Christian Kirk.
Josh Rosen and Christian Kirk have the potential to be something special in Arizona pic.twitter.com/63t8Vffkpw
- Ryan McCrystal (@Ryan_McCrystal) August 19, 2018
The rook pumped and kept a strong base before unleashing a laser where only his receiver could reach the ball.
Rosen exuded good awareness on subsequent drives, the best example coming when he threw the ball away with two seconds left in the half to preserve an attempt at a long field goal.
Sam Bradford appears to have a strong hold on the starting job for now, but the Cardinals wouldn't be in trouble with Rosen under center.
3. Josh AllenPreseason: 18-for-32, 176 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Week 2: 9-for-13, 60 yards, 1 TD, 104.6 passer rating
We knew he had the big arm. What we didn't know was if Josh Allen had the polish to be successful at the pro level.
Through two preseason games, the Buffalo Bills rookie has been a pleasant surprise.
In his debut, Allen showed off his rocket arm and ability to fit the ball through tight windows.
In his second outing, he took over a unit that was unable to record a first down under AJ McCarron and led them to a 15-play drive against a first-team defense, capping it off with an impressive show of athleticism:
#Bills rookie QB Josh Allen with a touchdown to Streater pic.twitter.com/hYOXBXBPC4
- Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 18, 2018
Allen eluded a rusher, moved up in the pocket, and kept his eyes downfield before firing a strike to his receiver in the back of the end zone. It was an impressive display of some of the facets of the game he struggled with in college, namely throwing with accuracy while on the move.
Throwing with touch remains a work in progress, and he's shown some growing pains, like when he wasted a timeout after taking too much time in the huddle during that first drive against the Browns. But he's shown great pocket awareness in his limited time on the field this preseason, as well as that cannon.
Allen just may be leading the three-way quarterback battle between himself, McCarron, and Nathan Peterman.
2. Sam DarnoldPreseason: 21-for-29, 158 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 2: 8-for-11, 62 yards, 1 INT, 48.3 passer rating
As noted above, Darnold has shown pinpoint accuracy. He's also impressed with his poise and ability to diagnose defenses, but he's not without his weaknesses.
While Darnold was 6-for-6 from the shotgun in Thursday's preseason game against the Washington Redskins, he was less comfortable from under center, where he was 2-for-5 on his throws.
From that position, he avoided pressure and threw the ball away on his first throw of the night, had a pass batted down, and had his last attempt tipped up in the air for an interception.
The No. 3 overall pick got the start for the @nyjets in Week 2 of the #NFLPreseason.
- NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2018
Every Sam Darnold throw from #NYJvsWAS! aiaiai pic.twitter.com/LReT5yHfrS
Darnold also had a couple of drives stall due to sacks, including one in the red zone that resulted in a field goal.
The coaching staff came to his defense, however, supporting the decision-making of the No. 3 pick in the draft.
"There wasn't anyone open. He'd just, rather than throw an interception, take the sack right there and kick the field goal. And there wasn't anybody open," head coach Todd Bowles said in a press conference, per the Jets' official site.
Darnold has made great strides in his short time in the pros. He looks comfortable going through his progressions and natural holding onto the ball with two hands - an adjustment he was forced to make after committing 22 turnovers (nine fumbles) in his final year in college.
.@nyjets #SamDarnold took another step last night to becoming the day #1 starter for the @nyjets . But @teddyb_h2o looked awfully good as well. Will a true competition take place? #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/VVTc1L1zqS
- Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 17, 2018
He looks the part of a starter and is looking to steal the job from both Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater.
1. Baker MayfieldPreseason: 18-for-33, 287 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Week 2: 7-for-13, 75 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 71.0 passer rating
Perhaps it's not a coincidence that this list followed the order of the first round of April's draft.
Baker Mayfield is the most advanced of the five QBs selected on Day 1. He's playing beyond his years and stating the case that he has the chops to start from opening day, no matter what coach Hue Jackson says.
Playing with the twos and threes, Mayfield has raised the play of those around him. Though the Cleveland Browns are outclassed on the depth chart beyond their starters, Mayfield has overcome dropped passes and drive-killing penalties to lead the backups.
Watch how he hangs in the pocket and patiently goes through his reads before firing a bullet over the middle to an open receiver to convert a third-and-7.
@Wolfey13 RT @Browns: Mayfield to Cajuste for the 26-yard gain!#BUFvsCLE pic.twitter.com/C4y2Ah9xoJ
- Tyler Cutchall (@Tylercutchall) August 18, 2018
He's also showcased his trademark elusiveness and ability as a runner.
The No. 1 pick has proven to be the total package in two preseason outings. His next match up, Thursday against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, will offer a true gauge of whether Mayfield can eventually excel in the Browns' starting job, and whether he's deserving of the top slot on this list.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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