First-round picks in the 2021 NFL draft, at least the healthy ones, have played in two preseason games at this point and probably won't see action in the final game. So it's a good time to see where they are in their development.
The quarterbacks have gobbled up much of the attention in the class, which stands to reason with QBs going at pick Nos. 1, 2, 3, 11 and 15. It looks like at least two -- Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson -- will start their openers, and the other three have acquitted themselves well enough to at least remain in the conversation to start in Week 1.
The wide receivers don't seem to have quite the footing that the QBs have. But they'll be afforded a little more time to adjust to the NFL. On the defensive side, the cornerbacks and linebackers have looked good and have made the teams that chose them feel that they did so wisely.
We asked our NFL Nation reporters to detail what their first-round picks have and haven't done well. Here's what they told us:
1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence has had the normal ups and downs of any rookie quarterback but overall has been impressive. He has thrown 35 touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 7-on-7, 11-on-11 and the two preseason games and has been the best QB on the roster by far. He has done that despite splitting first-team reps with Gardner Minshew II because Urban Meyer said Lawrence hadn't earned the starting job.
The offensive line has played poorly in the first two preseason games, and Lawrence got battered a bit against New Orleans. But Meyer ended speculation he could opt to go with Minshew on Wednesday, announcing Lawrence will start the opener. -- Michael DiRocco
2. Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
Wilson has been everything the Jets envisioned when they drafted him. He has impressed with his tangibles (quick release and arm strength) and intangibles (poise and work ethic). Coach Robert Saleh said Wilson is "light years ahead of normal rookies" when it comes to preparation and study habits. Wilson has taken every first-team rep since the spring and, barring injury, will be the Week 1 starter.
He handled the first two preseason games with relative ease, although he did face predominantly backups. It was good for his confidence, and it's helping his teammates become believers. You couldn't ask for a smoother transition. -- Rich Cimini
3. Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Lance's preseason has been about what you'd expect from a talented rookie quarterback making the leap from the FCS with only 17 games of experience: a combination of tantalizing potential with some traditional rookie growing pains. Lance's physical skills are undeniable, and he has picked up Kyle Shanahan's offense quickly, but his intermediate accuracy and touch are a work in progress.
At minimum, Lance is going to play situationally right away, but how soon he claims the starting job will depend on a mix of how he progresses, how Jimmy Garoppolo fares and both quarterbacks' health. -- Nick Wagoner
4. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Pitts has yet to play a preseason game -- a rarity for rookies -- but part of the reason is that first-year head coach Arthur Smith has said Pitts is "right on schedule" with the progress the team is seeking from him. In practices, Pitts has been consistently good minus the occasional dropped pass.
Atlanta will use Pitts all over formations to try to find exploitable matchups. Tight ends often struggle as rookies, but he has the makeup of being an impact player from Week 1. -- Michael Rothstein
5. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
It's no secret that Chase has struggled to pick up where he left off in 2019, when he was named college football's best wide receiver. Chase has battled drops throughout the offseason and training camp, including three in the preseason game against Washington.
The Bengals aren't too concerned yet, however. Coach Zac Taylor said the team hasn't been "down" on Chase, and Monday's practice showed why. After a rough stretch of days, Chase rallied with a drop-free practice punctuated by a twisting, contested grab in tight space in a red zone drill. -- Ben Baby
6. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins drafted one of Tua Tagovailoa's top targets from their days at Alabama in Waddle, and he hasn't disappointed. He split return reps with All-Pro Jakeem Grant in the Dolphins' first preseason game and has been a consistent, available option in a deep wide receiver room during training camp. Miami will need Waddle to do what he did best in college -- create separation and rack up yards after the catch. If he does that effectively, he should be an instant-impact player. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
7. Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions
Sewell has been thrown in the mix immediately, getting starter reps, but he has had his fair share of growing pains -- and rookie duties -- while adjusting from left to right tackle and playing football again after opting out of the 2020 college season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sewell joins a solid offensive line in Detroit, with a coaching staff that is being patient with his development even after he got beat a few times in preseason action.
"I'm not discouraged, and neither should he be," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. Overall, Sewell has played well, but he still has some learning to do. -- Eric Woodyard
8. Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers
Some might argue that the Panthers should have taken quarterback Justin Fields over Horn, but the Panthers remain confident they made the right decision. That's because Horn has made an instant impact on the defense with his leadership and play. General manager Scott Fitterer called Horn an "alpha" type and said he wants more players like him.
"He's a no-nonsense, hypercompetitive person,'' Fitterer said. "That's the alpha. When he walks into the room, he takes charge. And you feel that with him. That kid is hardwired a special way.'' -- David Newton
9. Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
Hall of Famer Champ Bailey said at a recent fan event that Surtain "reminds me of me." That's how it's going for Surtain, who has drawn raves from his veteran teammates and coaches for his maturity, intelligence, physical skills and ability to quickly take what has been taught in the meeting room to the practice field. He will play plenty and has lined up in practice at left cornerback, right cornerback, in the slot and at weakside linebacker in the dime. -- Jeff Legwold
10. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith was sidelined for a couple of weeks with an MCL sprain in his left knee and is just now rounding into form. He had a shaky start to his preseason debut against the Patriots with a couple of uncharacteristic drops before settling in and catching two passes for 19 yards. "I know what I did wrong. I've got to focus on catching the ball; that's all that is, just taking my eyes away too early," Smith said. "Those are plays I've got to make."
When healthy, Smith has been crisp in his route running and silky smooth. -- Tim McManus
11. Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Overall, Fields has enjoyed a productive preseason. The quarterback still has some choppy moments, but his elite speed and ability to keep plays alive outside of the pocket stand out. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that he will one day be a successful franchise quarterback. Any bad is far outweighed by the good.
The Bears will be tempted to play Fields early in the season, especially if veteran Andy Dalton gets off to a rocky start. -- Jeff Dickerson
12. Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Expectations are always high for a Cowboys first-round pick, yet Parsons has exceeded them so far. The Cowboys keep giving him more and more, and he continues to respond and make plays. He said he is growing more comfortable each day in the scheme, but the similarities to what he did at Penn State have helped.
"I kind of understand every coverage we're in, why we're running it, what situations we'll be in," Parsons said. "I can say, and me and [defensive coordinator Dan Quinn] talked about this the other day, it's like I understand what we're trying to do, but now I want to understand what they're trying to do against me." -- Todd Archer
13. Rashawn Slater, OT, Los Angeles Chargers
Slater has been held out of practice and games recently because of what coach Brandon Staley said is a "non-serious" lower back injury. "If it was a game [in the regular season], he'd be playing," Staley said. "He wants to play now; we're just being extra cautious."
Slater had been impressing everyone with his footwork, maturity and strength. The Chargers will have a solid offensive line once he gets back. -- Shelley Smith
14. Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, New York Jets
Vera-Tucker has spent nearly the entire camp on the sideline rehabbing a strained pectoral muscle. It was considered a day-to-day injury, but it has turned into weeks. When he returns to the practice field, perhaps this week, Vera-Tucker will step into the starting job at left guard. Yes, the Jets believe he's good enough to start Week 1 without much camp.
In the spring, some in the organization felt he already was their best lineman. He will have to rely on raw ability because he still has a lot to learn. Left tackle Mekhi Becton, a first-rounder in 2020, is looking forward to playing alongside Vera-Tucker because "we both like to see guys on the ground." -- Rich Cimini
15. Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
Veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown summed up the excitement in some corners of the locker room about Jones when he said: "I think he can be special. To be so young, he makes some throws not a lot of young guys can make."
Jones has played 77 snaps over two preseason games and is 26-of-38 for 233 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions -- showing excellent command in the two-minute offense, which is a staple of the Patriots' attack. Some in the organization believe he is further along in his knowledge at this point than any other rookie quarterback the team has had in the Bill Belichick era. -- Mike Reiss
16. Zaven Collins, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Collins has taken his anointment as the Cardinals' starting middle linebacker and run with it. He has been impressive considering he is just a few weeks into his first training camp, and he has been able to get a firm grasp of the defense and how to call it.
There will be hiccups this season, and there already have been some in camp, but overall Collins has been handling the transition well according to teammates. He also has been calmer and more poised than would be expected of a rookie thrust into this situation. -- Josh Weinfuss
17. Alex Leatherwood, OT, Las Vegas Raiders
Leatherwood, the pick who was a surprise here to everyone but the Raiders, has started both exhibitions at right tackle and played 29.7% of Las Vegas' snaps (39 of 131). Perhaps most impressively, he has not yet shown up on tape. That's because most times, when O-linemen flash, they are getting beat. Derek Carr tested Leatherwood in a joint practice with the Rams by audibling and giving the rookie a one-on-one matchup with All-Pro DT Aaron Donald.
"Probably not a nice thing of me to do, but I did it just to see," Carr said. "I think he actually did pretty good." Said coach Jon Gruden: "We were happy with Leatherwood ... we like what Alex is doing." -- Paul Gutierrez
18. Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami Dolphins
Phillips has been "itching, crawling" to get back to action after missing time with a groin injury, but he has practiced with the first-team defense when healthy. He has also split time at both linebacker and defensive end after playing both positions in college.
Phillips has used his time on the sideline to embrace the cerebral side of the game: "The time out was frustrating, but it was kind of a new perspective and it was kind of cool to see it from the outside looking in." -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
19. Jamin Davis, LB, Washington Football Team
Davis has been working as the middle linebacker in the base defense but has not been with the starters in the nickel package. Because he's responsible for calling signals and making adjustments, there are times when he seems to be thinking too much and hesitates. His speed in coverage has been noticeable, and there are times he's able to show it in the run game, filling a gap decisively.
In the preseason opener, Davis was hesitant and took some false steps that got him out of position. He improved in this area in the second preseason game. Coach Ron Rivera said Davis also must get used to reading plays while the quarterback is under center, something he rarely had to do in college. -- John Keim
20. Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
The problem with Toney is that nobody has seen him do much in live drills (for a variety of reasons) since the day he was drafted. Toney was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to training camp, and he has spent the past couple of weeks working with the rehabbing players with what appears to be a minor injury. It has undoubtedly slowed his acclimation.
Coach Joe Judge said that Toney is "progressing," but until he gets on the field regularly, it's impossible to predict what (or if) he will contribute early this season. -- Jordan Raanan
21. Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Paye has been a starter from day one at defensive end. The Michigan product has shown explosiveness off the edge in training camp. He recorded his first sack of the preseason against Minnesota on Aug. 21. "You just feel really good where he's at, and it was good for him to get in there, get a sack," coach Frank Reich said.
The Colts need Paye to have an impact in the pass rush after losing Justin Houston and Denico Autry during the offseason. -- Mike Wells
22. Caleb Farley, CB, Tennessee Titans
Farley is a work in progress after missing the first part of training camp. The size, speed and quickness that made him one of the top cornerbacks in the draft despite not playing in a game since 2019 have impressed Farley's teammates and coaches. He still feels he has a lot of improvement to make. "I'm focused on continuing to get all the way healthy and build my body up," he said. "Trying to get the quick-twitch ability back."
Farley is working at both left and right corner, primarily with the second unit. He'll be ready for the season opener, but Janoris Jenkins and Kristian Fulton will be the starting cornerbacks. -- Turron Davenport
23. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings didn't expect things to take a hard left turn with the player they anticipated would start at left tackle in Week 1. Darrisaw needed a second surgery to repair the core muscle he injured during his final season at Virginia Tech and has not gotten any live reps in practice. He has been limited to mobility and strength exercises to help heal his injured groin while Rashod Hill maintains his position as the starting left tackle.
Though the team has remained publicly optimistic, it's hard to see a scenario in which Darrisaw is ready to play early in the season. -- Courtney Cronin
24. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Harris has been everything the Steelers thought he'd be when they selected him with their first-round pick -- and then some. He impressed the team out of the gate during rookie minicamp with a tireless work ethic, earning praise from Ben Roethlisberger for his habit of staying at the facility so late that coaches had to tell him to go home.
Though Harris is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry in the preseason, he has shown playmaking ability. He also has shown his value in the receiving game, turning a short pass from Roethlisberger into a 46-yard gain against the Lions. Harris' talent is undeniable, and he'll be the Steelers' three-down back. -- Brooke Pryor
25. Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
A season-ending Lisfranc injury in the Jaguars' second preseason game has brought Etienne's promising start to an abrupt end. He showed the explosiveness and big-play ability that the Jaguars fell in love with during camp, but the team used him sparingly in the two preseason games. He had two carries for 3 yards and one catch for 6 yards (had Gardner Minshew II not overthrown him in the flat, he probably would have scored against Cleveland).
Etienne will have surgery and will rehab in preparation for the 2022 season. -- Michael DiRocco
26. Greg Newsome II, CB, Cleveland Browns
Newsome has had a solid camp and could very well win a starting job opposite Pro Bowler Denzel Ward by Week 1. Newsome brings the pass-coverage skills the Browns sorely needed last season, and his ability to play on the outside or in the slot should help him carve out a role sooner rather than later.
Yet whether he starts immediately or not -- he still has to beat out Greedy Williams -- Newsome appears on track to become Cleveland's other long-term option at corner, alongside Ward. -- Jake Trotter
27. Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Bateman could miss the start of the regular season after undergoing groin surgery two weeks ago. When he was on the field, he looked like the most polished rookie wide receiver the Ravens have ever had. The problem has been Bateman's struggles to stay healthy. He was sidelined for three of the first 11 practices in training camp before sustaining this significant injury. It could take some time for Bateman to establish some chemistry with Lamar Jackson.
Because Jackson missed the first 10 days of camp after testing positive for COVID-19, Bateman had only one full practice with the quarterback this summer. -- Jamison Hensley
28. Payton Turner, DE, New Orleans Saints
Turner has been sidelined for two weeks with an unspecified injury that kept him out of the first two preseason games. Coach Sean Payton said he didn't expect it to be a long-term issue, but obviously these snaps are more valuable to him than most. The good news is the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder was off to a promising start when healthy -- especially when the pads came on. And his versatility as an outside player with the size to move inside should get him into the rotation early.
"We've seen something from him every day, whether it be a tipped pass or a win on a pass rush," Payton said before the injury. "We're continuing our work with him in the run game, but he's having a good camp for a young player." -- Mike Triplett
29. Eric Stokes, CB, Green Bay Packers
Stokes got the same kind of welcome-to-the-NFL moments that fellow first-round corner Jaire Alexander did three years ago: Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams for touchdown after touchdown in practice. Alexander, now an All-Pro, embraced it, and he told Stokes to do the same. Stokes has steadily improved in camp and has shown he can be an opening-day starter unless the Packers want to go back to returning starter Kevin King (who has missed most of camp because of a hamstring injury).
"With the practice time that Kevin had missed, especially the first couple weeks, what an unbelievable opportunity it's been for Eric," Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. "For him to go against No. 17 [Adams] ... you can't create that anywhere else." -- Rob Demovsky
30. Gregory Rousseau, DE, Buffalo Bills
Rousseau got a few extra reps to begin training camp with Jerry Hughes spending two weeks on the NFI list -- and he made the most of them. Rousseau has already proved to be one of the Bills' best defensive linemen and started in the team's preseason opener, recording a sack.
After opting out of the 2020 season, the Miami product's quick acclimation to team football is inspiring for a Bills front office that was hell-bent on improving the team's defensive line this offseason. Rousseau might make a handful of teams regret the fact that they allowed him to fall all the way to No. 30. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
31. Odafe Oweh, DE, Baltimore Ravens
Critics will repeatedly point out that Oweh didn't have a sack in his final season at Penn State. But his instincts have shown up in camp. He is chasing down quarterbacks in one drill and running downfield as a gunner on punt coverage later in practice. Veteran right tackle Alejandro Villanueva said Oweh -- who ran a 4.9-second 40-yard dash at his pro day -- is possibly the fastest player on the field.
"It's crazy to see somebody come off the edge that quickly," Villanueva said. "It's not something that, 'He ran the 40 in whatever he did, and now he's here and he's a lot slower.' The kid has some speed." -- Jamison Hensley
32. Joe Tryon, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are thrilled with what they have in Tryon, who enters the perfect situation. He can learn behind veterans Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett and be worked into a rotation -- mostly in passing situations -- while serving as a key contributor on special teams.
"Joe is going to be amazing. He's doing stuff that I'm looking at and thinking, 'Man, I wish I would have known that when I was a rookie,'" Pierre-Paul said. -- Jenna Laine