The NFL preseason is complete, and the number of days before the regular-season opener is down to single digits. How ready will Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate and every other first-round pick be to hit the ground running in Week 1? Preseason playing time and performance could offer insight into how teams view their young players.
Below is a look at how many snaps each first-round rookie played and the results of those plays: Fernando Mendoza was pressured on 19 of 51 preseason dropbacks, according to TruMedia. He brings his eyes down when pressure is at his feet, which eliminates any possibility of completing a pass late in the down. And yet, it is understandable.
In college, Mendoza spent just 2.2% of his snaps under center. In his first preseason with the Raiders, he spent 56.5% of his snaps under center. The muscle memory with his footwork and timing on throws should come with time.
When clean, Mendoza still inspires confidence with his ability to show off his arm strength and fit throws into tight windows. Las Vegas has already announced Kirk Cousins as the Week 1 starter, which is likely the right decision at this time. There is an insatiable motivation within David Bailey.
He holds his ground in the run game and fights to get off blocks as a pass rusher. The Texas Tech product, by way of Stanford, generated pressure on stunts but also showed the speed and flexibility to win on the high side of his rush. Opponents showed their respect with the occasional double team.
Although it was a small sample size, Bailey showed the skill set that made him the No. 2 overall selection. The subtle details stick out when watching Jeremiyah Love run the football: pressing blockers before making his cut, using a jab step on routes to create leverage, not tipping his intentions with his eyes, etc. Love delivered one of the most memorable highlights of the preseason with a hurdle against the Raiders.
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