Rookie NFL quarterbacks impressive in debuts

Browns’ Mayfield, Bills’ Allen drop jaws with a few throws in pre-season openers

Not bad. Not bad at all.

By Thursday’s end, two of the NFL’s four rookie quarterbacks taken in the top 10 of April’s draft had played in a pre-season game. Namely, Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield (the No. 1 overall pick) and Buffalo’s Josh Allen (No. 7).

Though neither started, both sparkled at times in their first pro action as each attempts to realize his promise as a longawaited saviour of a long-struggling NFL franchise based on the shores of Lake Erie.

No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold of the New York Jets was expected to get ample playing time Friday against Atlanta, as was No. 10 pick Josh Rosen of Arizona Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Darnold and Rosen would do well to emulate the talent-confirming performances of their draft-class brethren. To wit:

MAYFIELD MAKES NOISE

Head coach Hue Jackson months ago designated eighthyear veteran Tyrod Taylor as the Browns’ unquestioned No. 1, at least to start the regular season. The former Bills starter did nothing against the New York Giants to jeopardize that faith. In taking just eight snaps with the rest of the first-team offence, Taylor ran once for two yards and completed all five of his passes for 99 yards total, including a 36-yard touchdown strike to second-year tight end David Njoku.

Mayfield played the remainder of the first half, all of the third quarter and three plays of the fourth in a 20-10 Cleveland win.

The former University of Oklahoma star had several eyebrowraising completions, including his two touchdown throws: perfectly placed hummers to Njoku and to troubled rookie wideout Antonio Callaway.

“Did some things well, but there’s definitely room for improvement,” Mayfield said. “Once those first-stringers came out, you could tell in and out of the huddle that there were some substitution problems. So stuff like that needs to get ironed out ... I’m happy with where we progressed. We got into a little rhythm.”

On his first touchdown drive, Mayfield showed impressive patience in the pocket on a few plays, going through his progressions rather than taking off and running.

Twice Mayfield tucked the ball and ran, once showing off his speed and running instincts to pick up the first down before scooting safely out of bounds.

Next up for Mayfield and the Browns: their pre-season home opener Aug. 17 against Buffalo.

ALLEN HAS A CANNON

Even if Allen had blown everybody away with his first pro performance at New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., he probably would have a hard time stealing reps from either Nathan Peterman or A.J McCarron based on their solid first-half performances against the Carolina Panthers.

Peterman started and impressively helmed Buffalo’s two first-quarter drives. Tom Brady couldn’t have been better in the New England-style attack employed by new Bills co-ordinator Brian Daboll. Peterman finished 9-for-10 for 119 yards.

McCarron wasn’t quite as sharp as Peterman in the second quarter, but finished 7-for-10 for 116 yards.

Allen, a 22-year-old from the University of Wyoming, was left to play mostly with third- and fourth-stringers.

Sometimes Allen overcame his surrounding blocking and receiving talent to will sensational completions through the sheer chutzpah, creativity and power of his cannon right arm, such as on his first snap to open the third quarter.

Allen dropped back and fired a sizzling pass 59 yards to undrafted rookie receiver Robert Foster down the left sideline. Foster caught the pass, but just a bit out of bounds.

Fans at the more than halffilled New Era Field leaped to their feet and gave Allen a standing ovation, for an incompletion.

“It was really cool,” Allen said. “Bills Mafia came out in full force tonight for a pre-season game, so to see that, I am excited to see what Game 1 (of the regular season) is going to look like.”

Allen’s touchdown pass in the fourth quarter was a laser to backup wideout Ray-Ray McCloud from 14 yards out.

One other play from Allen really impressed. Under pressure, he once faded back and to the right, finally leaping into the air with his momentum going backward, and somehow launched a pass long down the right sideline and into the hands of fourth-string tight end Khari Lee. Allen threw it from his 45-yard line; Lee caught it at the Carolina 17. Jaw-dropper, folks.

Allen finished 9-for-19 for 116 yards, the one touchdown and no interceptions. Considering at least two passes were dropped and Allen faced almost instant pressure on many drop-backs, that’s not a bad stat line.

Next up for him and the Bills: Aug. 17 at the Browns. Not quite Mayfield versus Allen. But that’s what we’re all going to focus in on.

And maybe rightly so.