NFL Preseason highlights: The best rookie performances on Thursday

The first full Thursday night of NFL preseason football is in the books, and it was a big stage for a very talented rookie class to shine.

NFL Mocks editor Erik Lambert highlighted some major goings-on around the league, and here we’ll highlight specifically some performances by rookies who shined in their initial opportunities.

Starting, of course, with former Heisman Trophy winner and number one overall pick Baker Mayfield…

Baker Mayfield, QB

Baker Mayfield was, well, Baker Mayfield in his first preseason appearance for the Cleveland Browns.

Mayfield was one of the best decision makers with the football that I have seen in a college quarterback since I’ve been evaluating NFL prospects.

Not only does Mayfield make good decisions with the ball, he takes necessary risks. For example, his touchdown pass to David Njoku in double coverage is a risk worth taking because Mayfield has the arm and accuracy to put the ball where only his receiver can catch it, and Njoku is the type of tight end that can win a jump ball situation more than 50 percent of the time.

Those types of calculated risks deserve praise, but Mayfield made a number of other great decisions with the ball in this game, showed an ability to make plays with his feet, and put the ball on an absolute rope to fellow rookie Antonio Callaway for his second touchdown pass of the game.

Mayfield knows how to find open receivers, he’s not afraid to stand up or step up in the pocket, and he’s not afraid to go through his progressions. He also has an internal clock and understanding of when the pressure is bearing down to the point that he won’t get stripped from behind.

He’s not mechanical.

Those traits were all on display consistently at Oklahoma and we saw it on a small scale in the Browns’ first preseason game.

Mayfield is going to be a superstar.