This weekend we got the opportunity to see the NFL’s first-round draft picks in action for the first time. QBs like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix Jr. all faired well in their first NFL debuts, albeit in the preseason. With this much talent in the rookie class, I decided to look back at some of the greatest rookie seasons by quarterbacks in NFL history.
3. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins (1983)
Marino threw for 2,210 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions during his rookie campaign. After the starter, David Woodley, struggled in the first five weeks of the season Marino took over and went 7-2 in nine starts. The Dolphins went on to go 12-4 during the regular season, winning the AFC East. After earning a first-round bye, they lost in the divisional round to the Seattle Seahawks. Had Marino played the whole season he likely would be higher on my list, and although the 20 TDs in 9 starts is impressive, it’s not as spectacular as what the other two guys did.
Rookie Accomplishments: 2nd Team All-Pro, 3rd in MVP voting, 2nd in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, and a Pro Bowl appearance.
2. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans (2023)
In his first NFL season, Stroud had 4,108 yards, 23 TDs, and just six picks. The Texans went into the season with very low expectations, coming off a three-win season with a rookie head coach and rookie QB. Stroud led the team to a 10-7 record and a home playoff game. He diced up defenses all season long and that continued in his first playoff game where he put up 274 yards and three touchdown passes, winning in blowout fashion, 45-14.
Rookie Accomplishments: Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl appearance, broke the record for most attempts without an interception to start a career, youngest QB to win a playoff game.
1. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (2011)
After being drafted first in the 2011 draft Cam set the league on fire passing for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also broke the record (at the time) for rookie QB rush yards with 706, and still holds the NFL record with 14 rushing touchdowns. Although Newton did not have as many wins as Stroud and Marino in his first season, his complete dominance of NFL defenses both on the ground and through the air is something we had never seen before and have yet to see since.
Rookie Accomplishments: Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl appearance, record for rushing touchdowns and yards as a rookie QB.
