NFL Rookie Roundup 360: Bo Nix dazzles, Malik Nabers flashes and Caleb Williams magic

Another weekend of preseason action featured some eye-popping performances from some of the top selections from the 2024 NFL Draft. While Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye all displayed why they were the top 3 quarterbacks taken in the draft, Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix showcased just why he’s on pace to be named QB1 in the Mile High City.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton isn’t giving anything away as to how will be the starter in Denver, but it’s hard to ignore a second consecutive strong performance out of Nix.  On Sunday night, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft put his skillset on display by completing 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

The 27-2 win over the Green Bay Packers also saw Nix’s competition, Jarrett Stidham, have a strong performance.  But the night and optimism belonged to Nix who looked comfortable in the pocket with both his precision and footwork.

“I thought he was sharp, obviously, I think he was 8 for 9,” Payton said of his rookie QB, via NFL.com.  “He does a good job of distributing the football, understanding zones, man-to-man, what coverage concepts we’re getting.”

Although Stidham is keeping the competition alive, Nix’s quick release is a fit in how Payton like to call his offense.  If you are a Broncos fan, he just feels like the perfect fit at quarterback.  If you are a betting man, bet on this rookie as a starter.

New York Giants have something special in Malik Nabers

While the New York Giants look like they will be entering the Carson Beck or Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes after Daniel Jones struggled in his preseason debut, they do have themselves a special talent in Malik Nabers.

If anything, Nabers may make life easier for Jones if he continues to make the type of plays he made in the team’s preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.  The No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft showed he’s ready to step into the spotlight as a top weapon in the Giants offense. 

Take a look:

To be fair to Jones, he is making his way back after a season-ending injury so his struggles on Saturday with the two interceptions thrown can be attributed to rust on the field.  If he forms chemistry and trust with Nabers like the play above, perhaps Giants fans will see a player more worthy of the $160 million contract extension. 

"We've been getting on page with a lot of different routes, and as we keep on going in practice, you know, he's trusting me more and more," Nabers said of his chemistry with Jones. 

This connection may be one of the most important ones in the 2024 NFL season.

 Caleb Williams displays magic in the pocket as Bears rookie shines

When it comes to highlights in this weekend’s preseason matchups, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft showed just why he was the top pick in the draft.  On Saturday, Caleb Williams had fans gushing and NFL fans in awe with his ability to emphasize and make plays with both his arm and feet.

In a 27-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams completed just 6 of 13 passes for 75 yards, but it was the plays he did make that made him the talk of the weekend.    If there was one play to some up all the hype entering the draft, it was this one:

His ability to escape pressure, prolonged plays all while keeping his eyes down the field and making the throw he did to Rome Odunze was pure magic. 

"Caleb did his magic there and placed the ball exactly where it needed to be, and I was there to make the catch," Odunze said, via the Bears official website. "I just watched it back. Man, he's throwing off of one leg, putting it on my outside shoulder. It's like, 'oooh.' It's magical what he's doing back there in that backfield. He's special."

Oh, there will be more to come.

In all, a great weekend for some of the top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft!