Realistic Goals for Every Rookie QB in 2024 NFL Preseason (2024)

The first week of the 2024 NFL preseason got underway on Thursday, and while exhibition games don't offer the drama or competition level of regular-season contests, they can still be exciting for fans.

In most instances, fans will get their first real look at their teams' incoming rookies on the preseason playing field. New England Patriots quarterback and third overall pick Drake Maye was among the list of first-year players on display on Thursday.

Naturally, rookie quarterbacks are often the biggest draws of the preseason, since they're facing live NFL defenses for the first time.

10 other quarterbacks were selected alongside Maye in April's draft, and several more were signed as undrafted free agents. Over the next three weeks, the majority of this year's rookie QB class will see some level of action in the preseason. Each of them will be looking to fare well, though their overall goals may be drastically different.

With this in mind, let's examine some realistic preseason goals for each of this year's rookie quarterbacks.

Draft Slot: Round 1 (No. 1 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Get a Little Experience and Get Out Healthy

Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams didn't see action in last week's Hall of Fame Game, but he's expected to take the field this week against the Buffalo Bills. According to head coach Matt Eberflus, the No. 1 overall pick is ready for the opportunity.

"He's right where he needs to be right now," Eberflus said, per NFL.com's Nick Shook. "He's having some good days, some good periods, and then some other ones that he's learning from adversity and a setback. I told him to just lean into that."

The only real goal for Williams these next few weeks will be to get those first few throws out of the way and stay healthy. The former USC star was named the starter shortly after being drafted, so he isn't playing for a job. He'll either gain some confidence by playing well or he'll make a few mistakes from which he'll learn.

Either way, Williams will be throwing to Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore and an impressive Bears receiving corps come Week 1. Between now and then, he just needs to get used to the rhythm, flow and nuances of NFL game days.

Draft Slot: Round 1 (No. 2 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Build on an Impressive Training Camp

Like Williams, Washington Commanders quarterback and second overall pick Jayden Daniels is virtually guaranteed to be the Week 1 starter. Washington does have a serviceable backup plan in Marcus Mariota, but the rookie has much more upside.

Daniels' goal in the preseason will be to show offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury that he can be the same dual-threat playmaker he was at LSU and that he doesn't need to be saddled with proverbial rookie training wheels. To do that, he'll need to build on the strong impression he's made in training camp.

" A lot of times you talk about rookies like, 'This guy is going to be good.' Jayden is good now," veteran tight end Zach Ertz told J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.

Daniels was an electric playmaker in college, and the traits and leadership skills he honed at LSU appear to be translating to the NFL. Of course, there's a difference between camp practices and controlled scrimmages and going against defenders eager to make their preseason mark.

If Daniels shows progress instead of regression in the coming weeks, there's no way he won't be the starter in September.

Draft Slot: Round 1 (No. 3 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Show That He Can Handle the Speed and Nuances of an NFL Defense

Third overall pick Drake Maye probably won't see playing time for the New England Patriots early as a rookie, if at all.

The Patriots are rebuilding and simply don't have the same quality supporting cast that the Bears and Commanders do. And while Maye flashed elite physical tools at North Carolina, he was never viewed as a particularly pro-ready prospect.

"When it comes to processing, Maye is more good than bad, but he's not perfect," Derrik Klassen wrote. "Maye does well to execute UNC's relatively simple offense."

Maye saw his first taste of NFL action against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, and that should only be the beginning of his developmental campaign. Journeyman Jacoby Brissett should lock down the starting job for most, if not all, of 2024.

However, Maye will still want to earn a little confidence before he turns to holding the clipboard on Sundays. He can do that by getting out of the preseason without feeling like bigger, faster defenders and against more complicated defenses are too much for him.

Draft Slot: Round 1 (No. 8 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Leave a Lasting Impression

The Atlanta Falcons stunned pretty much everyone when they took former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall less than two months after giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract.

Atlanta's plan is clear. It wants to lean on Cousins for the next couple of seasons, then turn the keys over to Penix before his rookie contract expires.

Penix's goal should be to replicate the path Jordan Love has taken with the Green Bay Packers. Love sat for three years behind Aaron Rodgers, finally got his opportunity in 2023 and is now tied for having the biggest annual contract in NFL history ($55 million).

While Penix isn't going to start this season if Cousins is healthy, he can speed up the transition process by taking advantage of every on-field opportunity. He should have plenty of those during the preseason, as Cousins is set to sit all three exhibition games.

A strong preseason showing and a handful of memorable plays may for the Falcons to at least consider handing the reins over to Penix earlier than originally expected. That, in turn, could increase the 24-year-old's chances of seeing a lucrative extension as soon as he's eligible in 2027.

Draft Slot: Round 1 (No. 10 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Show That He Can Operate Kevin O'Connell's Offense From the Pocket

The Minnesota Vikings shocked no one when they took Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy 10th overall.

The former Wolverines standout didn't operate in a particularly complex collegiate offense, but he flashed good athleticism, great arm talent and a penchant for delivering clutch performances.

McCarthy's accuracy, ball placement and processing skills, however, need refinement.

While the baseline traits and intangibles are there, the Vikings don't plan to rush his pro development. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has said both publicly and privately that McCarthy has an "open-ended" timetable for becoming QB1.

For now, Minnesota can lean on former first-round pick Sam Darnold. What McCarthy needs to focus on is showing that he can operate O'Connell's pro-style offense from the pocket, make the right read progressions and have a little touch on some of his throws.

That probably won't be enough to earn McCarthy the starting job by Week 1. However, it could lead to him getting on the field before season's end—or before Minnesota falls out of contention.

Draft Slot: Round 1 (No. 12 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Win the Starting Job

The Denver Broncos' selection of former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix 12th overall was also unsurprising. Denver parted with Russell Wilson in the offseason, and Nix was arguably the best quarterback left on the board.

However, Nix is far from a perfect prospect.

"Nix will ultimately be a dice roll on athleticism and accuracy," Klassen wrote. "With that said, it's a little worrisome that Nix is still unrefined in some areas as an older prospect with a ton of games under his belt."

In college, Nix experienced streaky accuracy and uneven pocket presence while benefiting greatly from a simplistic scheme and plenty of open receivers. While he is very much a project, though, he can still see winning the starting job as a realistic goal.

Denver's alternatives are Jarrett Stidham—who is QB1 on Denver's first unofficial depth chart—and former New York Jets draft bust Zach Wilson.

Head coach Sean Payton couldn't make it work with Wilson, and Mix is his hand-picked replacement. It'll be best for everyone if Nix does his learning on the field as a rookie. To earn that opportunity, he should only need to show that he can operate the offense as well as Wilson and Stidham. Draft status should take care of the rest.

Draft Slot: Round 5 (No. 150 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Earn the Backup Role

There was a long wait between Nix coming off the board and the New Orleans Saints using the 150th pick on former South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler. However, Rattler, who was once considered a first-round talent, could wind up having a better pro career than some of those signal-callers taken ahead of him.

Rattler's combination of arm strength, delivery flexibility, accuracy and pocket toughness will give him a chance to be a future NFL starter. However, he'll have to play the waiting game because the Saints have Derek Carr under contract through 2026.

The good news for Rattler is that his roster spot should be secure, and the Saints are pleased with his offseason progress.

"I think he's improving every day," coach Dennis Allen said, per John DeShazier of the team's official website.

This preseason, Rattle must focus on showing that he can operate Klint Kubiak's offense effectively while flashing the aggressiveness and arm talent he showcased in college. That should give him a realistic shot of winning the backup job over 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener.

Winning the backup job would give Rattler a jump on potentially being Carr's successor—and possibly seeing the field in 2024.

Draft Slot: Round 5 (No. 171 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Absorb As Much as Possible

The Jets' window with quarterback Aaron Rodgers may only last another year or two, which means New York will be in the hunt for a long-term successor at quarterback. Former Florida State quarterback and fifth-round pick Jordan Travis believes he can be that guy.

"I do think about that a lot," Travis said, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. "But right now, I'm just focused on where my feet are, just getting healthy and getting everybody around me better."

Travis needs to get healthy because he's working his way back from a devastating leg fracture that ended his 2023 season and has cost him most of the offseason—the rookie opened camp on the non-football injury list.

There's a very real chance that Travis won't play in the preseason because of his ongoing recovery. That doesn't mean that he can't learn plenty by watching buys like Tyrod Taylor and undrafted rookie Andrew Peasley during the preseason.

Draft Slot: Round 6 (No. 218 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Show Long-Term Backup Potential

The Baltimore Ravens took a chance on former Kentucky and N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary in the sixth round. A former four-star recruit had a solid college career, though he had two campaigns cut short by injuries (broken fibula, pectoral).

While Leary doesn't possess archetypal size (6'1", 217 lbs), athleticism or arm talent, he's a polished product who can make all the reads and deliver the ball to most areas of the field.

"Very talented, extremely talented. I look forward to him playing in the preseason," quarterbacks coach Tee Martin told reporters of Leary in June.

Leary's goal in the preseason will be to show that he has enough NFL potential to be developed as Lamar Jackson's long-term understudy. The Ravens have an experienced backup in Josh Johnson, who was with the team last season, but they parted with former backup and 2022 Pro Bowl alternate Tyler Huntley in free agency.

While Leary probably won't overtake Johnson on the depth chart as a rookie, he should stick as QB3 if he shows talent that can be developed long-term.

Draft Slot: Round 6 (No. 193 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Make Bailey Zappe Expendable

The Patriots came back in the sixth round and snagged former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton. While Milton was never viewed as a polished product, his combination of size (6'5", 235 lbs), pocket mobility and elite arm talent was too good to ignore.

While a strong arm will lead to opportunities in the NFL, they don't guarantee success. And while Milton has had some highlight throws during training camp, he's not a better prospect than Maye.

"Right now, Jacoby Brissett is clearly the starter, Maye is the backup, and Milton is battling with Bailey Zappe for the third-string job," Chris Mason of MassLive wrote. "Milton hasn't even won that one yet, ...Nothing against Milton, but he looks like a sixth-round rookie right now."

Milton will have to do more than take a few impressive deep shots during the preseason to make the roster. He'll need to show that he's improving his poise, accuracy and pocket presence enough to justify taking the QB3 role. He started that process already after completing 4-of-6 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.

Zappe, who has eight starts on his resume, can be a fine emergency QB if Milton doesn't progress.

Draft Slot: Round 7 (No. 245 Overall)

Realistic Goal: Showcase NFL Traits, Better Decision-Making

Former Tulane standout Michael Pratt is certainly no threat to Love in Green Bay. The Packers took a seventh-round flier on the 22-year-old because of his solid, if unspectacular, baseline traits and his experience as a four-year starter.

"Pratt can be a useful backup in the NFL," Klassen wrote. "His toughness, touch accuracy and moderate athletic ability should help him keep the ship afloat in a pinch. However, Pratt's uneven decision-making and lack of high-end traits limit his upside."

However, 2023 fifth-round pick Sean Clifford will likely hold down the backup spot in Green Bay this season.

For Pratt to stick on the 53-man roster, he'll need to show that his physical upside is high enough to justify developing long-term. He will also need to show that his decision-making won't be a complete liability in the NFL. Otherwise, the Packers won't be comfortable carrying him as QB3 and will likely turn elsewhere for their emergency quarterback.

Realistic Goal: Show Enough to Make the Roster or Practice Squad

Undrafted rookies face long odds of actually sticking with a 53-player roster. However, some inevitably do show enough during the preseason to earn roster spots and, sometimes, even playing time.

Last year, for example, Bears undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent made the team, made four regular-season starts and went 2-2 as the starter.

While the dream for undrafted quarterbacks may be to become the next Kurt Warner or Tono Romo, seeing a little playing time as a rookie is a much more reasonable—albeit still difficult—goal.

Of course, they'll need to show that they have either physical traits or intangibles that can make them effective quality depth players at the pro level. That could be enough to allow them to survive roster cuts, given the value of quarterbacks. Barring that, they'll hope to show enough to hang around on the practice squad.

This year's crop of undrafted rookie quarterbacks is as follows: