In all, 13 quarterbacks had been chosen on the 2025 NFL Draft. Whereas all eyes are particularly fixated on a number of the extra notable sign callers from this 12 months’s class, like first-rounders Cameron Ward and Jaxson Dart, together with former Colorado star Shedeur Sanders, the preseason permits us to see a bunch of them in motion. Over the primary weekend of exhibitions, 11 rookies suited up for his or her respective groups.
After all, just like their path by means of the NFL Draft, the missions every of those quarterbacks are embarking on this summer season differ. For somebody like Ward, the No. 1 total select of Miami, he is ramping as much as begin Week 1 for the Tennessee Titans. In the meantime, Dart, regardless of being the one different first-round quarterback taken, is utilizing the preseason as a developmental interval as he is set to take a seat behind veteran Russell Wilson, which is a state of affairs extra acquainted to the remainder of the category.
For these set to work in a backup position as soon as the common season kicks off, the preseason is a small window to flash their abilities on the sphere, upping the stakes inside video games that hardly have stakes in any respect.
Under, we will spotlight the entire 11 rookie quarterbacks who performed this week and rank their performances. For an added little bit of spice, we will embody Minnesota Vikings signal-caller J.J. McCarthy on this group, given he is a quasi-rookie after the 2024 first-rounder was sidelined all of final 12 months because of damage.
- Draft standing: Spherical 6 (No. 197 total)
- Stats: 7 of 14 passing for 27 yards and three interceptions; 9 yards speeding on one try
It was a nightmarish debut for the sixth-round product out of Florida. On high of finishing simply half of his go makes an attempt after coming in halfway by means of the third quarter towards Minnesota, he tossed three interceptions on three consecutive drives to finish the day offensively for Houston. Sheesh. Whereas certainly one of his turnovers was as a result of ball being batted on the line of scrimmage, Mertz’s third interception was probably the most egregious. The sixth-rounder sailed a go properly over his supposed receiver deep down the center of the sphere, which allowed Vikings nook Kahlef Hailassie to make the simple interception.
- Draft standing: Spherical 6 (No. 181 total)
- Stats: 1 of 5 passing for 8 yards and one interception
McCord simply did not look comfy when he got here in for Philadelphia in the course of the fourth quarter of its exhibition with the Cincinnati Bengals. He held the ball too lengthy at occasions, which allowed strain and compelled him to bounce within the pocket. His lone completion was a fast, excessive proportion throw on the sticks. Total, he did not show a lot contact with some other makes an attempt, and it regarded like the sport was shifting a bit too quick for him.
- Draft standing: Spherical 7 (No. 231 total)
- Stats: 5 of 18 passing for 91 yards, 4 sacks taken and two fumbles misplaced
Ball safety was an enormous challenge for Ewers in his preseason debut. The Dolphins quarterback got here in halfway by means of the third quarter after Zach Wilson relieved Tua Tagovailoa, who performed simply the opening drive. Ewers’ first drive was a Dolphins three-and-out, and his second featured a brutal strip-sack fumble contained in the Miami 5-yard line. That gave Chicago the soccer on the doorstep of the tip zone.
With a chance to arrange a game-winning discipline aim, Ewers was once more pressured and sacked, which resulted in him coughing up the soccer with lower than 30 seconds to play in regulation.
Most of Ewers’ completions got here whereas Miami was within the hurry-up offense earlier than the second fumble. On the day, he related on simply 5 of his 18 go makes an attempt.
- Draft standing: Spherical 6 (No. 189 total)
- Stats: 12 of 24 passing for 92 yards and one interception; 34 yards speeding on 4 makes an attempt
All of Indianapolis is wanting a bit additional up on the Colts quarterback depth chart as Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones duke it out for the Week 1 job. That stated, Leonard put collectively an enough efficiency in his debut. He performed your entire second half and was in a position to lead Indy on a landing drive on his second possession of the preseason. It was throughout that drive that he confirmed his speeding potential, scrambling for a 21-yard acquire to get the Colts to the Baltimore 5-yard line. Earlier than that, he additionally sparked the drive with a 24-yard acquire by means of the air on a completion to wideout Laquon Treadwell.
His lone interception got here with simply over 7:30 left to play in regulation. The pocket rapidly collapsed round him, and as a substitute of dumping it all the way down to his operating again, who was leaking out on the proper facet of the sphere, he tried pushing the ball deep. He was hit when he threw, and the ball got here up quick and fell into the arms of a Ravens defender.
- Draft standing: Spherical 2 (fortieth total)
- Stats: 15 of twenty-two passing for 165 yards, two sacks taken, one landing and one interception (pick-six); 3 yards speeding on one try
It was a hot-and-cold efficiency from Shough, who remains to be battling with Spencer Rattler for the beginning job. The second-round rookie was the second quarterback up within the preseason opener towards the Chargers after Rattler acquired the beginning. Shough got here in and was in a position to lead New Orleans on its first scoring drive of the day, marching 52 yards on 10 performs to arrange a 31-yard discipline aim. Nevertheless, Shough and the offense went three-and-out on the following possession, after which the rookie threw a pick-six the place nook Eric Rogers jumped the route on a throw supposed for Dante Pettis.
Shough did rally on the following possession after the decide, uncorking a 54-yard landing go to Mason Tipton, who broke free deep down the left facet of the sphere.
Once more, there have been highs and lows from Shough, however he was environment friendly total, finishing 15 of his 22 passes.
6. J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings)*
- Draft standing: Spherical 1 in 2024 (No. 10 total)*
- Stats: 4 of seven passing for 30 yards; 8 yards speeding on one try
McCarthy wasn’t unhealthy by any stretch, however his 2025 preseason debut was largely unremarkable given how quick a time we noticed him. He began and performed only a single collection earlier than calling it a day. The Michigan product led the Vikings on a 13-play scoring drive that concluded with a 48-yard discipline aim. McCarthy’s longest throw of the day got here on an 18-yard completion to Jordan Addison. It wasn’t the very best ball because it was a bit out in entrance of Addison (who needed to make a diving reception), however McCarthy did present good poise on the throw with a defender in his kitchen.
Total, it was a strong first displaying from McCarthy since coming off his season-ending knee damage in 2024, albeit a short one.
5. Cameron Ward (Tennessee Titans)
- Draft standing: Spherical 1 (No. 1 total)
- Stats: 5 of 8 passing for 67 yards
Just like McCarthy, we did not see all an excessive amount of of the No. 1 total decide in his preseason debut. After all, provided that Ward and McCarthy are each earmarked to begin Week 1, it is sensible they got shorter leashes in a sport the place the ultimate consequence meant subsequent to nothing.
With that stated, Ward did appear to settle in after a gap three-and-out. Throughout his second and closing collection of the night time, he orchestrated an 11-play, 65-yard landing drive the place his budding chemistry with high wideout Calvin Ridley flashed. The 2 related on all three of their passes for 50 yards on the scoring drive.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t good for the previous Miami quarterback, as he threw a near-interception to nook Josh Hayes, who merely could not make the catch for the turnover. Nonetheless, normally, Ward appears fairly comfy.
- Draft standing: Spherical 3 (No. 92 total)
- Stats: 6 of 10 passing for 61 yards; 38 yards speeding on three makes an attempt
If you happen to did not watch Milroe at Alabama, his mobility might be what stood out to you most in his Seahawks debut. After taking up to start the second half, he took off on his first go try after his preliminary reads had been coated and picked up 11 yards on the bottom. He additionally had a stunning 27-yard run deep in his personal space.
Nevertheless, it is Milroe’s arm that may make or break his NFL profession. Most of his go makes an attempt on the night time had been modest, high-percentage throws. That stated, he did have a very spectacular throw to fellow rookie Ricky White III, the place he threaded the needle over the center of the sphere.
He is nonetheless extraordinarily uncooked as a passer, but it surely’s throws just like the one above that give him a sky-high ceiling, particularly if he begins to hit them with regularity.
- Draft standing: Spherical 6 (No. 215 total)
- Stats: 6 of seven passing for 76 yards and a landing; 4 yards speeding on one try
Earlier than we get into Miller’s efficiency, let’s emphasize that we’re highlighting how every of those quarterbacks carried out merely once they had been on the sphere this weekend. After all, some signal-callers may have simpler sledding than others, notably in the event that they took the sphere late in preseason contests the place they had been enjoying towards reserves slightly than enjoying earlier and towards defenders greater up on the depth chart.
With these caveats on the market, it is exhausting to not like what we noticed from Miller when he acquired below heart with just below 10 minutes to play in regulation for the Raiders. He accomplished all however certainly one of his seven go makes an attempt, and the North Dakota State product helped shake his vast receiver free with a pump faux en path to a 41-yard landing throw.
Miller additionally put the Raiders in place to win their preseason exhibition, main the offense on a five-play, 31-yard drive with lower than 25 seconds to play in regulation. He acquired Las Vegas to the Seattle 37-yard line to arrange a potential 55-yard game-winning discipline aim, however the try was blocked. Nonetheless, it was fairly an effort from the sixth-round rookie.
- Draft standing: Spherical 5 (No. 144 total)
- Stats: 14 of 23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns; 19 yards speeding on 4 makes an attempt
With Joe Flacco resting, together with Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel sidelined with hamstring accidents, Sanders made probably the most of his alternative. The Colorado quarterback acquired the beginning for the Browns of their preseason opener and performed primarily three quarters, heading to the bench after main a landing drive with just below 4 minutes to play within the third. In that point, he actually performed properly sufficient to warrant presumably shifting up the depth chart, finishing 14 of his 23 go makes an attempt for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Sanders confirmed a robust potential rolling out to each his left and proper all through the night, together with throughout his first landing throw of the sport. He rolled out left, acquired his ft set and delivered a dime to Kaden Davis for the rating, threading the ball between a number of defenders.
Arguably his most spectacular throw got here on a 30-yard completion to Luke Floriea. Sanders rolled out proper and delivered an in-stride go to Floriea regardless of having a defender in his face. It was additionally an incredible one-handed effort by Floriea.
It wasn’t good for Sanders, nevertheless, as he got here out a bit sluggish for the second half and practically threw an interception within the second quarter on a go right into a excessive quantity of site visitors. However even with that, it was the kind of displaying that ought to solely endear him to the teaching workers going ahead by means of the preseason.
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Cody Benjamin
- Draft standing: Spherical 1 (No. 25 total)
- Stats: 12 of 19 passing for 154 yards and a landing; 24 yards speeding on three makes an attempt
Dart had probably the most spectacular outing of any rookie quarterback in my thoughts as a result of he was going up towards a number of the Buffalo starters and carried out properly in that settling. The Ole Miss product got here in after Russell Wilson acquired the beginning and performed the opening drive. In all, Dart was within the driver’s seat for 3 scoring drives on his 4 first-half possessions. Dart regarded comfy within the pocket, made tight window throws, and when the strain began to get house, he confirmed off his mobility with 24 yards on the bottom.
His finest play of the day was by far his 28-yard landing go to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. On high of hitting his receiver in stride, Dart accomplished the go regardless of a defender crashing in the direction of him and taking successful.
After seeing Dart’s debut, it is exhausting to not be excited in case you’re a New York Giants fan.