Caleb Harris
O NFL It’s a quarterback-driven league and that was very apparent during the 2024 draft when three QBs were selected to start the event. Six quarterbacks ranked in the top 15, meaning we could see a lot of rookies running the offense this year.
As we’ve seen in the past, just because a player is a top pick doesn’t mean he will have immediate success, or even success, in the future. NFL. While these rookie QBs may need some time to adjust to leaving college, there will undoubtedly be overreactions and comparisons among all of the freshman passers.
Here’s a look at the rookie quarterbacks who were taken early in the draft:
O NFL has a history of must-win matchups between established defenders and this season’s clashes between rookie defenders could be the start of what ends up being some classic rivalries. It’s no guarantee that these rookies will be a starter for the team and in one case (the Falcons), we know they won’t be.
Here’s a look at the potential rookie QB vs. rookie QB matchups we could see next season:
Bears vs. Commanders
When: October 27th at 1pm ET
Potential quarterback matchup: Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels
Williams, barring injury, will be the Bears’ quarterback and there’s a good chance in Week 8 he’ll face the quarterback who was drafted right after him. The Commanders’ No. 2 pick, Daniels, will compete with Marcus Mariota, who is also in the Commanders’ quarterback room, for the starting position.
If Daniels wins as a starter, it will be the last two Heisman Trophy winners who will face each other.
Last season, the two first picks, also defenders, faced each other. Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers ended up defeating C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans, but the rest of the season was a different story, with Stroud winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and Young’s team finishing the year with a 2-15 record.
Bears vs. Patriots
When: November 10th at 1pm ET
Potential quarterback matchup: Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye
Unsurprisingly, Williams has already been named the starter in Chicago, but Maye has yet to earn his starting role during training camp. Even if Maye doesn’t end up as the Week 1 starter, the team could transition the rookie into that role during the season. Williams will have home field advantage against any quarterback he faces.
After parting ways with Mac Jones following a rough year at quarterback, the Patriots signed veteran Jacoby Brissett for his second stint with the team. The team hopes he will provide some leadership for Maye, who should eventually become the team’s starter, whether this season or next.
Bears vs. Vikings
When: November 24th at 1pm ET and December 16th at 8pm ET
Possible quarterback matchup: Caleb Williams vs. JJ McCarthy
The Vikings lost veteran Kirk Cousins this offseason, leaving a big hole to fill. They called up McCarthy, adding to the group that also includes Sam Darnold, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens. Williams and McCarthy will face each other twice if the No. 10 pick wins the starting job, once on “Monday Night Football.”
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell commented on his new QB and explained his goals moving forward.
“This guy is process-driven and understands there’s a long road ahead,” O’Connell said. “We’re just trying to make incremental gains that will solidify as part of how he plays quarterback for a long time. So I’m really impressed with it so far…”
Both teams missed the playoffs last season, but have a chance this year with promising newcomers leading the way.
Broncos x Falcons
When: November 17th at 4:05 pm ET
Possible quarterback matchup: Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, so his health is a big topic of discussion this off-season. He has progressed significantly and the belief is that he will be ready and at full capacity by 2024 NFL season. If that’s true, he would be the one to potentially face a rookie, although Nix has yet to earn the job.
As Cousins continues to recover, Penix Jr. is able to take more reps.
Broncos coach Sean Payton hasn’t revealed much about the quarterback competition in Denver. When asked about the competition, he said“We’ll figure it out, we’ll figure it out. … We’ll have a rotation and go from there.”
Falcons vs. Vikings
When: December 8th at 1pm ET
Potential quarterback matchup: Michael Penix Jr.
This is another game that probably won’t end up being newbie vs. newbie, although there will be It is It’s still a chance. The Falcons’ No. 8 pick shocked the most NFL fans, considering the four-year, $180 million deal they gave it to their cousins. Atlanta stood by its selection, saying it was to ensure stability at the position in the future. If Penix Jr. ends up being a Hall of Famer, he gets a Super Bowl or even needing to step in if Cousins gets hurt, the Falcons will have the last laugh in a situation that initially left everyone scratching their heads.
McCarthy says that in the short time he spent with the team, he didn’t feel overwhelmed and noticed that his first day didn’t feel like that. He added that he has been reviewing the offense for some time now, so he already feels comfortable in his new team.
Commanders vs. Falcons
When: Week 17 to be determined
Possible quarterback matchup: Michael Penix Jr. vs. Jayden Daniels
The Falcons just paid Cousins a lot of money this offseason, so there’s no doubt he’s the top pick to run the offense. If Cousins gets hurt, Penix Jr. could take the field, but after the paycheck they wrote for the former Viking, that appears to be the only scenario the rookie would play in 2024.
Daniels was seen working with the team’s new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, during rookie minicamp and is now still expected to be the Week 1 starter.
