NFL preseason week 2 ratings for first-round rookies: Who stood out, disappointed and surprised

Opinions begin to form two weeks after the start of a pre-season. Do these opinions always correctly predict a player’s performance when the matches really matter? Of course not. But in most cases, two games tell us whether or not a rookie will be able to get into the NFL.

These are pre-season ratings for first-round recruits from week 2 of the pre-season, listed in the order in which the players were drafted. Before we begin, if a rookie is not listed, it is either because he did not play in his respective team’s opening game or, for various reasons, was unable to qualify. have a significant impact, bad or good. .

Category B-

Walker didn’t register pressure on 13 rushing snaps against the Steelers. That doesn’t mean it was an abysmal performance. No way. Walker’s length and strength popped up again, often fending off Pittsburgh blockers and moving them around in the running game.

3. Derek Stingley, BC, Texans

Rating: A-

Stingley played the role in his first pre-season action. After allowing a reception somewhat close to his zone on an in-breaker at the middle level, Stingley closed remarkably on a deep route and his penultimate shot of the game was a manual plant and drive on a return route which has resulted in an easy pass deflection. Stingley was also very fluid in all directions.

4. Gardner Sauce, CB, Jets

Grade: B+

The Jets were cautious with Gardner, as he only played 12 snaps and had eight in coverage against the Falcons. He covered well – mainly Bryan Edwards – but the ball was never thrown his way.

Grade: B+

Thibodeaux’s knee injury was the main storyline in the Giants’ preseason game against the Bengals. Prior to the injury – which apparently isn’t too serious – Thibodeaux was close to a handful of pressures but only credited with one. He looked explosive and was effective at the point of attack around the corner.

Grade: C+

Wake-up game for Ekwonu against the Patriots. New England gave him adjustments with their twists, and Josh Uche beat him around the corner for a sack. Ekwonu wasn’t brutal but looked far more clumsy and uncomfortable in both the passing and running game than he had to start pre-season.

Category B-

Gradual steps for the incredibly agile Neal for his size. For the second week in a row, there were a lot of unbalanced reps and some pressure allowed. Overall, Neal was better and he moved people when the Giants ran the game. He did a good job using his length in pass protection.

Grade: C+

Cross got 30 pass-blocking reps and started against Robert Quinn, and he passed that test with flying colors. Strangely, Al-Quadin Muhammad and rookie edge rusher Dominique Robinson gave him trouble. I don’t know how Cross was credited with an authorized pressure as there were numerous instances in which he was pushed back into quarterback or hung on for life. However, the fact that he technically “masked” Bears rushers in the stat sheet is a testament to his incredible recovery ability.

Grade: B+

Three catches on three targets for 15 yards for the discarded rookie. One was a very good football fit on a comeback that featured traffic. Another, Wilson would probably like to get it back. He caught a shallow cross on third down with plenty of grass around him, but was tripped up by a small tackle.

Category B

Few looks for Olave against the Packers, but he caught his first touchdown in a preseason game on what appeared to be broken coverage. With that, Olave made a clever hold away from his body.

Rating: C-

Davis played just under 20 snaps against the Browns and had minimal impact. A few times he pushed away the keeper or the cross. That was it. No pressures or tackles for the former Georgia star.

Grade: B+

Dotson turned two targets into a pair of catches for 23 yards against the Chiefs in Week 2 of the preseason. The first take was on a tunnel screen – Dotson showed his YAC vision and talent on the 12-yard gain. Later he caught a shallow cross and demonstrated his acceleration to beat defenders in the corner to pick up the first down.

Rating: A

The Chargers should be thrilled with Johnson’s departure. Again, he was exceptional in pass protection, getting up and under his mission on just about every opportunity, and he was efficient in the running game.

Rating: C-

A little better from Week 1 for Penning, but he looks so uncomfortable upright in pass protection. It’s just not something he’s done very often in northern Iowa, and doing it now, against NFL passers, has led to his poor start.

Rating: A-

Pickett operated the two-minute drill with surgical precision, and the drive resulted in a touchdown. His exit seems even faster than at the university, and the precision at all levels was there. I loved the touch thrown over the seam – with pressure on his face – to Pat Freiermuth and the laser beam to Diontae Johnson in the middle.

Category B

Walker had a tackle and an assisted tackle against the Saints, which marked his first action of the preseason. He looked springy in his movement and did a good job of beating a few blocks to get closer to the soccer ball in the running game.

Grade: B+

No tackles. No pass breaking. No penalties. From the stat sheet alone, it was a boring game against the Broncos for Elam. But of course, a cornerback can positively impact the play of his defensive teammates without any major plays. He covered exceptionally when he had opportunities in the man and looked more comfortable sinking in the area than in the first pre-season outing.

Rating: A-

Smith still looked a little goofy at times…but that was another clean sheet of pass protection in his second contest of the preseason. He was solid but unspectacular in the running game.

Rating: C

Pressured 12 quick passes for Johnson in his second preseason outing. He was not significantly passed but was unable to win at the point of attack despite the quality of the ball and a lot of commotion.

Grade: C+

Wyatt assisted on a tackle in his first snap of the preseason and looked visibly sharp as he fired the ball. He failed to register any pressure – or even come close – on his 14 rushing snaps, however.

Category B

Strange had 37 snaps against the Panthers and was solid in all phases. Of his 27 pass protection snaps, only one quarterback hit was allowed. Although he wasn’t able to lock down defenders the entire game in some instances, Strange moved his feet well and displayed quality attacking point strength.

Rating: A

Karlaftis didn’t generate pressure with the same volume he did in the preseason opener, but he was once again damn good, registering a sack from Carson Wentz on an impressive power rush that came ended with a rotation of a doubles team. Karlaftis have had a good start this pre-season.

Rating: A

Hill looks ready to go. He didn’t miss a tackle against the Giants, flew all over the place and had a highlight interception on an angled pass which he dove into to secure the ball before it hit the turf.

Grade: B+

Cine moved away to the sideline on a throw to a corner route from Trey Lance and nearly got a pass breakup. It was ultimately a spectacular catch from the receiver, but Cine closed the pass in a flash. He also flew downhill, took a block and turned on Trey Sermon on a running play and had another tackle on a field completion. Another strong outing.