Whereas the eye of the NFL presently of 12 months is on the quarterbacks who can be coming into the league this spring, the passers coming into their second season may very well be those who most tremendously impression the outlook of 2025.
Members of the 2024 rookie quarterback class made historical past earlier than even taking knowledgeable snap: Six had been chosen within the first spherical, tying the document set in 1983. And it’s a bunch that has already flashed long-term promise.
J.J. McCarthy (No. 10 total choose) didn’t play resulting from a knee harm, however Jayden Daniels (No. 2) and Bo Nix (No. 12) quarterbacked playoff groups. Three of the six — Daniels, Nix, and Caleb Williams (No. 1) — began all 17 video games. Drake Maye (No. 3) and Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8) confirmed their potential in restricted pattern sizes, too.
All of them enter 2025 in several conditions, although. So how ought to we measure success for every of them?
Right here’s a breakdown of the aim that every 2024 first-round quarterback must be in search of within the upcoming season.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
2024 stats (17 video games): 62.5% completion fee for 3,541 yards and 20 TDs, 6 INTs
Objective: alignment with new coach Ben Johnson
On paper, there are a lot of causes to count on a Yr 2 bounce from Williams. The Bears employed an offensive guru in Ben Johnson and poured substantial assets into the offensive line (signed middle Drew Dalman in free company; traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson), which ought to put final 12 months’s No. 1 choose relaxed working throughout the pocket. However Chicago’s efforts to spice up its offensive supporting forged can be moot if Williams doesn’t get on the identical web page as Johnson.
Johnson helped rejuvenate Jared Goff’s profession and coordinated one of many NFL’s most inventive and dynamic offenses with the Detroit Lions. He’ll have a plan to get probably the most out of Williams, who shares an enormous duty in making the partnership work for the lengthy haul.
Marcedes Lewis on how Ben Johnson will assist Caleb Williams develop in Yr 2
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
2024 stats (17 video games): 69% completion fee for 3,568 yards and 25 TDs, 9 INTs
Objective: staying throughout the sport
After a historic rookie season, arguably one of the best for a first-year passer in NFL historical past, Daniels ought to naturally be coming into 2025 with supreme confidence. Additions like large receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and left sort out Laremy Tunsil solely increase expectations for the previous Heisman Trophy winner.
However with these expectations comes stress, which may result in urgent and forcing performs to occur. It’s paramount that Daniels stays inside himself (e.g., checking the ball down or throwing the ball away when nothing is open downfield). It’s simpler stated than completed, however decision-making performed a key position in Daniels’ success as a rookie. Balancing that together with his rising confidence can be his problem in Yr 2, when defenses can have a greater understanding of his sport and find out how to take a look at him.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
2024 stats (13 video games): 66.6% completion fee for two,276 yards and 15 TDs, 10 INTs
Objective: scale back turnovers
For as a lot promise as Maye confirmed final season, he nonetheless dedicated 16 turnovers (10 interceptions, six misplaced fumbles), tied for fourth-most within the NFL. They usually got here in simply 13 video games. Of the six quarterbacks who had a minimum of 16 giveaways, solely the Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis made fewer appearances (12).
In New England, the hope is that continued development and a stronger supporting forged in 2025 pays dividends for Maye. He already has a brand new high receiver in veteran Stefon Diggs and offensive-line reinforcements forward of the draft, the place the Patriots are anticipated to lean closely on offense.
Josh McDaniels, who returns to New England for his third stint as offensive coordinator, has confirmed success with Patriots QBs, together with his work with Tom Brady and a rookie Mac Jones, who made the Professional Bowl as an alternate.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
2024 stats (5 video games): 58.1% completion fee for 775 yards and three TDs, 3 INTs
Objective: solidify standing as franchise QB
After beginning simply three video games as a rookie, Penix wants to increase the promise he flashed in a small pattern dimension over a full season as QB1. With a powerful supporting forged round him offensively in a winnable NFC South, final 12 months’s No. 8 choose ought to have what he wants to take action — a minimum of on paper.
Nobody desires Penix to succeed greater than Atlanta common supervisor Terry Fontenot, whose free-agent signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins final offseason has became a flop. The Falcons should commerce the veteran passer forward of the 2025 season, regardless of already triggering his $10 million roster bonus for 2026.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
2024 stats: DNP
Objective: play a full season
McCarthy grew to become the primary quarterback chosen within the first spherical of the modern-era draft to overlook his complete rookie season resulting from harm. That uncertainty about his well being coming into 2025, not to mention his on-field capabilities, has introduced us to this fascinating Vikings’ offseason, which has included a flirtation with Aaron Rodgers. So a clear invoice of well being within the upcoming season — as soon as he’s absolutely recovered from his torn meniscus — is essential for McCarthy, permitting Minnesota to get a correct analysis of its hopeful quarterback of the longer term.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
2024 stats (17 video games): 66.3% completion fee for 3,775 yards and 29 TDs, 12 INTs
Objective: full-season consistency
Nix burst into the Offensive Rookie of the Yr dialog by mid-2024 and was the best-performing first-year passer not named Jayden Daniels by the top of the season. However the begin of his rookie marketing campaign was rocky, together with a couple of traditionally poor passing performances (3.3 yards per try and two interceptions on 42 passes in his NFL debut; 2.4 yards per try on 25 throws in Week 4).
Nix’s job shouldn’t be solely to be a extra regular quarterback in Yr 2, but in addition to make noticeable strides whereas accounting for the truth that groups now have a full season’s price of movie on him.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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