Many rookies took their first snap in an actual NFL game on Thursday. Rookie quarterbacks, as always, were the center of attention for most fans. Obviously, these players hold the future of their organizations in their hands. Some flourished and showed why they were drafted, while others… not so much.
All box score stats can be found here.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: A
Kyler Murray displayed exactly what is expected of him. He commanded the huddle well and seemed to handle the pressure easily. On the field, he completed six of seven pass attempts for 44 yards. Even his incomplete pass was on target, but was called incomplete by penalty. The offensive line played poorly while Murray was in, but his mobility and quick throws kept defensive pressure to a minimum. Cardinals fans should hope to see more snaps for the rookie in the following preseason games.
Daniel Jones, Giants: A-
Daniel Jones surprised some people in his first and only drive, completing all five of his passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. The Giants displayed his strengths, allowing him to navigate the pocket and put a few balls in tight windows. His most impressive throw, by far, was the 12-yard touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone. After suffering perhaps the most criticism of any quarterback so far, Jones has shown that he has at least some potential. Similar to Kyler Murray, Jones needs to receive more playing time in the next few games to show if he is the real deal.
Dwayne Haskins, Redskins: C-
Of all the rookie quarterbacks, Dwayne Haskins seemed to struggle the most this week. His accuracy and decisions were often questionable, and other times downright bad. He completed eight of 14 passes for 117 yards and two interceptions. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a huge red flag to fans. Haskins made several rookie mistakes, which are coachable and can be learned from. It will be interesting to see if he can adapt in the coming weeks and develop into “the guy” in Washington by week one of the regular season. It may still be Colt McCoy or Case Keenum’s team at the beginning, but Haskins is definitely going to start at some point this year.
Drew Lock, Broncos: B
In Drew Lock’s second game of the preseason, he improved dramatically. He seemed much more comfortable in the pocket and connected on more of his throws. He finished the game with 18 completions on 28 attempts for 180 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The playcalling was also better, allowing more YAC opportunities and easier throws for Lock. His only major flaw was his pocket awareness and ability to sense pressure, which resulted in a couple of sacks. If he can continues to progress, it will only be a matter of time before the rookie takes over for starting quarterback Joe Flacco.
