Denver’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Jayden Daniels have each led their groups to 8-5 data as rookies and would have the ultimate wild card in every convention if the 2024 season ended at present.
They every have 21 complete touchdowns this season, neither has misplaced a fumble, and their passing yardage is inside 23 yards of one another. Nix and Daniels are having distinctive rookie campaigns enjoying out concurrently, arguably a step forward of Chicago’s Caleb Williams.
Daniels stays the favourite for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months honors, and his throwing for 3 touchdowns Sunday in a rout of the Titans to finish a three-game shedding streak undoubtedly helps with that. However Nix continues to steer the Broncos to victory as nicely. He is thrown for seven landing passes in opposition to two interceptions of their present three-game successful streak.
If Daniels was forward in highlight-reel throws — Hail Mary touchdowns will try this — then Nix caught up a bit Sunday, throwing a 93-yard landing cross to receiver Marvin Mims. It is the longest landing cross by a rookie quarterback in 26 years, since Detroit’s Charlie Batch threw a 98-yard rating to Johnnie Morton in 1998.
Might each Nix and Daniels make the Professional Bowl as rookies? Daniels ranks fourth amongst QBs (and first within the NFC) in early Professional Bowl voting, whereas Nix is ninth (fifth in AFC). Just a few AFC quarterbacks would most likely must politely decline for Nix to make the minimize as a substitute selection. Solely twice in Professional Bowl historical past have a number of rookie quarterbacks made it in the identical season: Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin all made it collectively in 2012; and Andy Dalton and Cam Newton did so in 2011.
Drake Maye exhibiting off his working capacity
Patriots rookie Drake Maye hasn’t had as nice a rookie season as another first-year quarterbacks, however he has showcased an underappreciated facet of his sport. Maye had 5 carries for 59 yards in New England’s loss to the Colts on Sunday, and for the season, he has rushed for 345 yards. He is averaging 9.1 yards per carry, which leads the NFL amongst all gamers with a minimum of 30 carries. Up to now 50 years, the one participant in any season to common that a lot on that many carries was Michael Vick as a rookie in 2001.
Maye does not have many proficient choices to throw to in New England, so he has but to cross for 300 yards in a sport, however he had a strong exhibiting on Sunday, going 24-for-30 for 238 yards with one landing and one interception.
It is a good illustration of how precociously correct this 12 months’s rookie quarterbacks are. In NFL historical past, there are simply seven video games ever by rookies with 30-plus passes and an 80% completion fee, and 4 of them have come this 12 months — Maye and Daniels on Sunday and video games by Nix and Daniels earlier this season.
Extra Professional Bowl rookie vote-getters
Professional Bowl rosters are chosen by equal components of voting from followers, gamers and coaches, and the early fan outcomes present the quirky nature of that a part of the balloting. Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers is sort of a lock to make the Professional Bowl along with his gaudy numbers, however there aren’t many others who’re prone to earn a visit to Orlando.
[RELATED: How Raiders’ Brock Bowers is building best season ever for a rookie tight end]
However fan favorites? Lions lengthy snapper Hogan Hatten, an undrafted rookie who performed at Idaho, is second within the snapper voting, and Saints punter Matthew Hayball, an undrafted rookie from Australia, ranks fourth within the punter voting regardless of rating thirtieth within the league in punt common. Solely 9 fullbacks are even on the Professional Bowl poll, however Chiefs rookie Carson Steele ranks second in that voting, regardless of declining utilization. He performed simply three snaps in Sunday’s win.
Viral sort out boosts Cooper DeJean
There are numerous contributors to the Eagles’ present eight-game win streak, however their surge has coincided with the emergence of rookie nook Cooper DeJean, who was slowed in camp by a hamstring harm and barely performed on protection in Philadelphia’s 2-2 begin. Since he moved right into a beginning position, the Eagles have not misplaced, and Sunday noticed him seize headlines for a textbook open-field sort out of Ravens working again Derrick Henry.
DeJean has helped on particular groups as a punt returner, and whereas he lacks a splash play to seize extra consideration, his regular play has been seen. Professional Soccer Focus has him now ranked third out of 113 cornerbacks throughout the league.
Bowers, Nabers problem NFL rookie goal file
Bowers in Las Vegas and receiver Malik Nabers with the Giants have been the No. 1 goal for his or her groups as rookies, a lot so that they are on observe to problem for essentially the most targets ever for a rookie. Nabers, who missed one sport attributable to harm, is at 116, and Bowers is at 113. That places them on tempo to method the rookie file of 167, set by the Patriots’ Terry Glenn in 1996.
Bowers ought to have a busy day Sunday, going through a Bucs protection coping with a number of accidents at security, nickel and linebacker, and already giving up the fourth-most receiving yards to tight ends this season. Nabers, too, will get to face two of the NFL’s 4 worst cross defenses within the subsequent two weeks with the Saints and Ravens.
Chargers‘ Nonetheless continues to shine
If you happen to hadn’t heard the title this season, it is best to have Sunday: Chargers rookie nook Tarheeb Nonetheless, a fifth-round choose from Maryland, got here by means of with two interceptions of their win over the Falcons, together with a 61-yard pick-six off Kirk Cousins within the third quarter. Nonetheless and fellow rookie fifth-rounder Cam Hart have been central items in Los Angeles’ league-leading protection, and Nonetheless stepped up much more with Hart sidelined by harm Sunday.
The one rookies with extra interceptions this season are Texans security Calen Bullock and Rams defensive again Jaylen McCollough, with 4 every. Throughout the league, groups have discovered impression within the defensive secondary from rookies both taken within the later rounds or in no way. Bullock was a third-round pick of USC, and McCollough went undrafted out of Tennessee.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade masking the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You may comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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