NFL Preseason Week 1 Rookie Report

The Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year won’t be named until after the season is over, six months from now. But the foundation for the players most likely to win those awards is already being built.

Caleb Williams (+140)

For Chicago Bears fans and Caleb Williams bettors, there is a lot to like about the way the No. 1 overall draft pick looked in his NFL debut. He showed off his arm in the pocket and on the move, he made good decisions, and his two offensive drives totaled 147 yards.

Williams finished 4-of-7 for 95 yards and 13 yards rushing on scrambles. He was poised, accurate, and proving worthy of his lofty expectations as the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Jayden Daniels (+450)

The Bears like their guy, and the Washington Commanders like theirs, too. Jayden Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick, he’s the second betting favorite to win OROY, and he looked every bit the part against the New York Jets.

Daniels’ first completion was an audible he called on third-and-six that resulted in a beautiful 43-yard completion to Dyami Brown. He would only throw one more pass before giving way to Marcus Mariota, a three-yard gain to Terry McLaurin, but he also ran the ball for the game’s first touchdown, showing off his other great weapon, his legs.

Bo Nix (+1800)

Williams and Daniels are confirmed Week 1 starters, but the Broncos put Bo Nix third on their depth chart to begin the preseason. That may change before they play again this coming weekend.

Fighting to be QB1, Nix looked like the Broncos may have finally found the successor to Peyton Manning. Nix led five offensive drives, and four of them resulted in points (two touchdowns and two field goals). Nix was 15-of-21 for 125 yards and a touchdown, along with 17 yards on three rushes.

Head coach Sean Payton said that all three of his quarterbacks – Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson – did a good job. But it’s clear that Nix is going to make it hard for Payton to start anyone else when the season begins.

J.J. McCarthy (+2000)

Sam Darnold is the current favorite to begin the regular season as the starting quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings, but the future is J.J. McCarthy. He will become the starter at some point this year, and probably early, but there are reasons for head coach Kevin O’Connell to take his time. His interception on his first possession being one of them.

Overall, McCarthy was good, finishing 11-of-17 for 188 yards and two touchdowns, one from 33 yards and the other from 45 yards. But he looks like a rookie, and Darnold doesn’t. The Vikings want McCarthy to sit and learn, and that didn’t change after this performance.

Drake Maye (+3000)

The New England Patriots limited No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye to just six snaps in their preseason opener. He was 2-of-3 for 19 yards, and it was hard to get a sense of just how far he has come. In their second preseason game at home against the Philadelphia Eagles, that will change. Head coach Jerod Mayo said, “Drake will play more this week, for sure.”

Top Rookie Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison Jr. (+750) did suit up and play in the Arizona Cardinals preseason opener, but you will be forgiven for not seeing it. He was on the field for just three plays, and did not receive a target.

Malik Nabers (+1400) was on the field for 12 offensive snaps in the preseason opener for the New York Giants, but like Harrison, he wasn’t targeted a single time during his NFL debut.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy (+2200) was on the field in Jacksonville for five snaps in his NFL debut, but also did not get a target.

Top Defensive Rookies

Dallas Turner is +450 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he recorded a sack for the Vikings in his NFL debut. Austin Booker of the Bears is well down the odds board at +5000. But in Chicago’s two preseason games, he has 2.5 sacks.

The favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year is defensive Laiatu Latu of the Indianapolis Colts at +425, and he played eight snaps in his NFL debut, recording one tackle and one quarterback pressure.