NFL preseason Week 2 grades for first-round rookies: Malik Nabers has A+ outing; Drake Maye showing promise

For 30 NFL teams, two preseason games are in the books, so trends for young players are starting to materialize. 

Now that there’s legitimate NFL film to watch, grades are to be handed out, even if the games are meaningless. The individual performances are not always meaningless in the preseason. 

These are Week 2 preseason grades for first-round rookies. Before I begin, if a rookie isn’t listed, it’s either because he did not play in his respective team’s opening game or, due to a variety of reasons, wasn’t able to make much of an impact at all, bad or good. To see last week’s grades, click here.

(Listed in draft order) 

Grade: A-

The 45-yarder deep down the sideline to Rome Odunze while rolling left was magical. But Williams did get off to a shaky start with some incompletions, and he took a bad sack inside the pocket in the first half. The improvisation on the throw to Odunze in which the rookie had his feet out of bounds was another stroke of brilliance. Love that he ended with an exclamation mark on the touchdown scamper. Another impressive showing for the No. 1 pick. 

Grade: A-

Plenty of underneath work from Daniels against the Dolphins, and I love that it highlighted the quickness of his release, particularly on the over-the-middle throw to tight end John Bates off play-action. Nothing spectacular in this outing, though.

Grade: A

The backside dig connection with fellow rookie Javon Baker was a glimmer of advanced quarterbacking from Maye, and the long-ball attempt to Baker down the seam with a 55-yard flick of the wrist directly into the bucket. Progress for the No. 3 overall pick. 

Grade: B-

Stock-up effort from Alt against the Rams, particularly in pass protection, where he didn’t allow a pressure on 17 pass-blocking reps. His balance was noticeably better, and he executed his assignments in the run game.

Grade: A+

Sensational performance from Nabers against the…

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Author : Chris Trapasso

Publish date : 2024-08-20 13:36:21

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