• A debut to remember: Gardner Minshew showed flashes in the 2019 preseason, especially in Week 2 against the Eagles (79.7), but few could have predicted what he would do in his debut against the Chiefs. The Jags would ultimately lose, but the Washington State product showed sublime accuracy, completing 22 of his 25 pass attempts with two drops and one batted pass, leaving him with an adjusted completion percentage of 100%.
• The RGIII vs. Andrew Luck battle: Fans were eager to see who would make the bigger first impression between RGIII and Andrew Luck, and Round 1 decisively went to the former Baylor Bear.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
It doesn’t hurt to start strong.
Hope and expectations reign supreme in Week 1, especially when it comes to rookie quarterbacks. Every football fan will be eager to see how a franchise’s potential savior performs, even though, deep down, they understand it’s only the first step in a long journey.
As we wait to see how this year's crop of quarterbacks handles the action, it’s fun to look back on the best Week 1 performances by rookie quarterbacks in the PFF era.
All grades are available with PFF Premium Stats, along with a host of unique stats and filtering mechanisms.
1. Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars: 87.8
2019 VS. CHIEFS
That’s right — the highest Week 1 grade for a rookie quarterback belongs to a sixth-round pick who stepped in only after Nick Foles fractured his clavicle. Minshew showed flashes in the 2019 preseason, especially in Week 2 against the Eagles (79.7), but few could have predicted what he would do against the Chiefs. The Jags would ultimately lose, but the Washington State product showed sublime accuracy, completing 22 of his 25 pass attempts with two drops and one batted pass, leaving him with an adjusted completion percentage of 100%. Not bad.
2. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles: 84.2
2016 VS. BROWNS
Expectations were all over the place for the second overall pick, who barely played in the preseason and had spent the previous year playing at North Dakota State. The jump up in competition would be too much for some, but Wentz immediately looked at home as the Eagles saw off the Browns. Wentz had an impressive debut, racking up 278 passing yards and three big-time throws, kickstarting one of the best opening months by any rookie quarterback in NFL history.
3: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers: 80.2
2011 @ CARDINALS
Newton scored a touchdown on the ground, but it was his passing that really caught the eye in his debut. His four big-time throws and 422 passing yards gave a glimpse into what the Panthers fans could expect from their No. 1 pick, even if his ball security (two turnover-worthy plays) wasn’t as good as some of the players higher on this list.
4. Robert Griffin III, Washington Commanders: 79.7
2012 @ SAINTS
Fans were eager to see who would make the bigger first impression between RGIII and Andrew Luck, and Round 1 decisively went to the former Baylor Bear. There was excitement on the ground as he accumulated 43 rushing yards on nine rushes, but his work in the passing game got Commanders fans dreaming. Griffin generated 13 first downs and a 73.1% completion percentage, leading his team to a surprise victory.
5. Mac Jones, New England Patriots: 78.3
2021 VS. DOLPHINS
The Patriots would lose this one, but they came out of it with hope in the post-Brady era, largely thanks to Jones' performance. The Alabama product started well and continued his strong efforts throughout the year, making it all the more remarkable that he’s both no longer with the team and competing to be a backup elsewhere.
6. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans: 75.5
2015 @ BUCCANEERS
Could the script have been any better? The first two picks, both quarterbacks, facing off against one another in Week 1. Things looked great for the Titans, as Mariota outplayed Jameis Winston. The former Oregon star was largely mistake-free throwing the ball while tossing four touchdowns.
7. E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills: 74.9
2013 VS. PATRIOTS
It didn’t turn out the way Manuel wanted at the Bills, but it started with a lot of promise in a narrow defeat to the Patriots. Although he threw for only 150 yards, two of his attempts made their way to the end zone, and he was let down by three dropped passes. He ultimately earned what would turn out to be the highest single-game grade of his career.
8. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 73.3
2018 @ RAVENS
Allen wasn’t supposed to be playing at all in this one, as Nathan Peterman got the start. Unfortunately for Peterman, he was benched with the game out of reach, finishing with a 24.3 PFF grade after completing just five passes and throwing two interceptions on 18 attempts. By comparison, it wasn’t hard to look better, but Allen avoided turnover-worthy plays. And with that, a new era was born.
9. Geno Smith, New York Jets: 68.2
2013 VS. BUCCANEERS
Smith endured a somewhat dramatic draft-day fall but would start Week 1 with the Jets. He was by no means spectacular, but then, asking for spectacular from a rookie in Week 1 is asking a lot. Instead, there was some good and some bad, enough to not dampen the hope without raising expectations.
10. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 68.3
2016 VS. GIANTS
Dak had lit up preseason, but it was harder going in Week 1, as one might have imagined when all the starters were out there. Still, he handled himself well, as the Cowboys lost by a single point, especially when it came to limiting big mistakes. It was the kind of start most rookies would very happily take.
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