Grading every rookie QB from NFL preseason Week 2: Fernando Mendoza lackluster, Jalon Daniels draws high marks

There are only a couple of quarterbacks in the 2026 rookie class who can realistically expect to play in NFL games this season. Of that group, only No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is virtually guaranteed to have the opportunity to start. Strong showings in the preseason can go a long way in increasing the number of first-year quarterbacks who carve out meaningful roles on their respective teams, though.

For most of the professional newcomers who have been in action over the last two weeks, impressive preseason showings will help them latch onto rosters as second or third options. Take Joey Aguilar or Jalon Daniels , for instance. Both scored touchdowns in consecutive outings, and Daniels oversaw a comeback win for the Buccaneers in preseason Week 2. They could go from undrafted free agents to important depth pieces because of their strong play.

There were 15 rookie quarterbacks in action during the second week of the preseason. Some started, others entered the lineup during the second half, and one saw less than a minute of action.

Below are grades for each of those rookie quarterbacks who played in Week 2.

Adjusting from college football to the NFL is hard. Do not let one rough preseason game against a stellar defense get in the way of Fernando Mendoza's potential to find ample success as a pro, potentially as soon as the latter stages of his rookie year. It really was a tough one, though. The No. 1 overall pick threw a pick-six that went 80 yards the other way on the Raiders ' opening possession, and he finished his first start 8-for-15 for 86 yards. He also took a sack for a loss of 11 yards. Mendoza did not reduce the gap between him and Kirk Cousins , but that was never the goal of this preseason. Las Vegas has no reason to rush him into the lineup.

Geno Smith gave Cade Klubnik a tough act to follow when he completed all seven of his passes and scored a touchdown, but his potential backup held his own against a Steelers defense that forced all kinds of pressure on the pocket. Klubnik did not orchestrate any scoring drives but helped the Jets get into field goal range during a two-minute drill at the end of the first half. He spent most of his time on his own half of the field and took two sacks, but it was not as if he received much help from his offensive line. A 16-yard keeper went down as New York's longest rush of the day.

It was always going to be a massive ask for Drew Allar to replicate the kind of magic he sparked in his professional debut. He did not come particularly close to repeating that three-touchdown effort. The most positive takeaway from Week 2 was that he went turnover-free; Will Howard , in comparison, threw two interceptions before giving way to his backup. Allar took three sacks and completed fewer than 50% of his 23 throws, and the Steelers gained just six first downs with him under center in the second half. If there was anything to build on, it was a 38-yard strike to rookie tight end Lake McRee .

There is some arm talent in Joey Aguilar. A week after he delivered a 43-yard dart on the lone throw of his professional debut, he connected with Trebor Pena on a 29-yard touchdown. Aguilar's highlights have come in the second half against reserve defenses, but they are meaningful nonetheless for an undrafted free agent fighting for a roster spot. In total, he threw just one incompletion across 10 attempts against the Panthers and racked up 130 yards plus the scoring play.

For the second consecutive week, Athan Kaliakmanis went down as the Commanders ' passing leader. It was an even wider margin this time around as he outdid Sam Hartman, 162 yards to 67, despite throwing just three more passes than his fellow backup. The first play of the fourth quarter was the source of one-third of those yards as he delivered a 55-yard strike down the sideline to Nick Nash . Outplaying Hartman in two chances, albeit without a touchdown drive, gives Kaliakmanis a chance to lock down Washington's No. 3 role.

Progress. Luke Altmyer was clean in the turnover department in the 17-13 win over the Commanders, which is a step in the right direction after he tossed a pair of interceptions in his debut. Taking four sacks, however, gives the Illinois product something new to work on. Chalk some of that up to the offensive line, since he was under pressure for most of his outing. Altmyer did not take a step toward the No. 2 job but should latch on as a third option with the potential to develop into more.

The Falcons might just have something in Jack Strand . He arrived in Atlanta as a relative unknown, having gone undrafted out of Division II Minnesota State–Moorhead, but he made a name for himself in two preseason outings. Following the rushing touchdown he logged in Week 1, Strand erupted for 212 passing yards, a touchdown and another score on the ground in a drubbing of the Colts . He and Cooper Rush combined to complete 16 of their first 17 throws, and his rushing ability (22 yards on nine carries) is obvious and differentiates him in the battle for the No. 3 quarterback job.

Joe Fagnano is racking up the volume this preseason. The Ravens clearly want to find out what they have in the undrafted signal-caller, considering they gave him 48 passing attempts across two games. On one of those throws in Week 2, he accounted for the lone touchdown of the 13-3 win over the Vikings with an 8-yard scoring toss to LaJohntay Wester . Fagnano converted on 75% of his passes (which, amazingly, was a regression from Week 1) and showed off a little bit of mobility, too. Everything points to Fagnano taking the No. 3 role from Austin Reed .

Ty Simpson swapped roles with Stetson Bennett IV this week after handling the lion's share of work in Week 1. The reduced workload limited him in his attempt to recreate the 21-for-25, two-touchdown clinic he put on the week prior, but he still found a rhythm and oversaw two lengthy drives in his three possessions of action. Both went 11 plays, and w...