5 Early Rookies of the Pre-Season Standouts: Caleb Williams Wasn’t the Only One Who Impressed

Preseason football was back in full force this past weekend, with a slew of rookies getting their first shot at becoming real NFL players. Unfortunately, one rookie quarterback has already been sidelined, as JJ McCarthy has been placed on the injured list with a torn meniscus after a strong debut, but there was still a lot to be excited about and look forward to this season from the rookies.

Here are five rookies who delivered performances that will get their fans excited for the upcoming season.

Such a list cannot exist without starting with Williams.

He looked like a player who’s been talked about as a potential No. 1 draft pick since his senior year in high school. He was accurate, took chances on the field and made some eye-popping plays that should have any NFL fan excited to see where his rookie year goes. Notable: a third-down throw to DJ Moore, the dart along the sideline while rolling to his right, the twisted move on the screen to D’Andre Swift. In a tiny handful of plays, NFL fans got their first taste of the Caleb Williams experience. He’s in for a tough few games as he tests the limits of what’s possible in the NFL, but his first action couldn’t have gone better for him or the Bears.

It’s not often that a 340-pound offensive tackle moves from right tackle to left tackle, but that’s exactly what the Titans will be asking of this year’s first-round pick. So far, things have worked out well for Latham, who has looked comfortable on the blind side of the Titans’ offense. He has some incredibly rare movement skills for his size, and the Titans’ experiment of throwing him into the fire at left tackle could pay off. He’s far more fluid in pass protection than he gets credit for, and once he gets his hand on a defensive lineman, it’s over. If Peter Skoronski can improve after an inconsistent rookie season, the Titans may have found two cornerstones on the offensive line to build around for the future.

Overreaction in the first week of pre-season: Barton was the buy of the first round.

Barton was sensational in his first NFL action, making a near-seamless transition to center after spending his senior year of college as a left tackle. Barton figures to be a stalwart in the middle of the Buccaneers’ offensive line, which could have two elite building blocks in Barton and All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs.

Barton made life miserable for rookie defenseman Kris Jenkins Jr. and should be a huge boost to Tampa’s offense.

Nate Wiggins, CB, Ravens

Wiggins needed just four plays to show off the skills he brings to the NFL. On his first drive, Wiggins caught three passes in four plays, including a fourth-down throw that went his way. He suffered a shoulder injury that ended his day early, but the speedy cornerback made his presence felt for the Ravens immediatelyThe quarterback won’t be Kenny Pickett every week, but Wiggins’ range and ability to drive the ball in man coverage will soon put him on the field in a talented Baltimore defensive secondary.

Let’s give a shout-out to a non-first round rookie who played well this weekend. Allen has burst onto the national scene as a talented running back since he was a 17 year old starting freshman for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was one of the best running backs in college football for three straight years, but fell in the fourth round of the draft when the Jets picked him up. Allen looked strong, explosive and decisive in his first NFL action and may have already cemented the RB2 role. Breece Hall and Allen figure to be one of the best running back duos in the league, which would be a big boost for an all-in Jets team.