NFL preseason Week 2: Players to watch, including an Eagles-Browns QB flying under the radar

We finally had some preseason football to react (and overreact) to. Preseason is always interesting — OK, interesting maybe for the sickos — and this past weekend was no different. It was full of standouts, surprises, and outlandish statements and predictions.

I want to highlight a handful of players who stood out during our first weekend back, even if it was exhibition play, and what we can see out of the rest of the preseason and going forward. Let’s start with a quarterback in Philadelphia who I think has become one of the more interesting characters in the NFL. And it’s not the reigning Super Bowl MVP.

Tanner McKee, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

McKee is stacking impressive performances and looks like a starter

Even with whatever is happening over there *gestures toward the Browns’ quarterback room/medical tent*, Tanner McKee would have remained the most fascinating signal-caller in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. McKee has made preseason showcases an annual tradition; like a starting MLB pitcher on a minor league rehab assignment, McKee’s polished play, strong arm and consistent ball placement leads to a passing bonanza against overmatched second-and-third stringers deploying vanilla schemes in August.

In Week 1 of this year’s preseason, McKee again overwhelmed a defense. This time it was the Bengals’ unit, which featured a good chunk of Cincinnati’s projected starters. McKee finished completing 20 of 25 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns while being sacked twice on 13 pressures. It was an extended run and indeed a showcase for the NFL and the always quarterback-needy market, a market that general manager Howie Roseman can exploit again because of McKee’s talents.

McKee, a 2023 sixth-round selection, plays with a good sense of timing when the Eagles let him drop back. Again, there are preseason caveats with his performances (although McKee impressed in his Week 18 start against the Giants last season). But on just the eye test, McKee can push the ball to the outside and downfield with notable ball placement, with a knack for back-shoulder throws. McKee is actually a pretty good athlete considering his size at 6-foot-6, 231 pounds. You’re not going to design runs for him (though he handled the tush push for a touchdown last week), but he has enough burst and the flexibility to consistently throw off-platform and on the move.

I have to emphasize his ball placement again because McKee will get the pass out early and out in front of his teammates. Or aim low and away from defenders. Everything with McKee is consistent, with the right times to rear back and be aggressive downfield or up top on high-low concepts.

(He also lets his teammates make plays. There were some great plays on the ball from second-year wide receiver/skyscraper Johnny Wilson.)

McKee keeps impressing every time he touches the field. Positive training camp reports are one thing, but he has now stacked up several years of strong preseason performances and a regular season one to boot. They’re impressive enough that I am confident to say that he is a starter-quality player at this point, or at least a player who deserves a real shot at starting. And while there have been reports that teams made inquiries about McKee, it’s the middle of August and almost all clubs feel settled enough to not doing something as drastic as trading for a new starting quarterback. But it isn’t unprecedented, especially with Roseman involved.

There’s the Sam Bradford trade to the seemingly never-rebuilding Vikings for two draft picks (a first-rounder and conditional fourth) on the eve of the 2016 season after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a freak knee injury in practice. Kevin Kolb is another comparison. A second-round selection in 2007, Kolb was showcased and dangled as trade bait for what felt like a decade by Roseman and Andy Reid before they anointed him as the starter in 2010. Where an early injury led to Michael Vick overtaking Kolb in the starting role, Kolb was then traded the next year to the Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick before not doing much in Arizona.

And then there’s the whole Carson Wentz saga.

The point of this history lesson is that this isn’t Roseman’s first go at juggling a starter (of varying levels of establishment), an interesting backup and an always starved market. McKee is worthy of real interest.

Why Rams, Browns should consider trading for Tanner McKee

But would a desperate team offer a juicy first-round selection or some package to entice Roseman? Essentially all of the quarterback seats are already taken. And teams that I think have the biggest quarterback questions marks and injuries — the Rams with Matthew Stafford’s back odyssey, and, again, *gestures towards the Browns’ quarterback room/medical tent* — are on different points of the contention timeline.

The Rams looked like they were ready to make a push in a fairly wide open NFC behind a strong offense and young pass rush. But that path becomes a little more wobbly with the possibility of Davante Adams’ favorite quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, behind center. And there is absolutely no path if Stetson Bennett was asked to start. McVay is a gameplanning maestro but I think he can only take Garoppolo so far. So, if there is a real feel to make a run this year (remember, this is the Rams, with Les “F Them Picks” Snead and Sean McVay we’re talking about), I think it makes sense for the Rams to be aggressive. They have a strong collection of skill players in Adams, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, their funky bunch of tight ends, and an offensive line that should at least be above board in 2025. The defense has questions, but a pass rush that has some real teeth to it can help a team go on a run.

If they believed in McKee, I actually think he could be a good fit for what McVay’s offense has turned into, and he could be an actually viable answer to bridge a chance at a playoff run this year and a path going forward. Even if Stafford can play this season, I don’t think there’s a disruption of any parties’ timelines even considering contracts.

And, perhaps because the football gods have a sense of humor, the two teams that I think could be interested are the two teams with two first-round selections in 2026.

After spending a third and two fifth-rounders to build out their 2025 quarterback room, the Browns might be out of darts in this round of quarterback cricket. However, where’s the fun in that? Look at this room! They currently have two quarterbacks with hamstring injuries (which I’ve been completely flabbergasted by), Joe Flacco is still 40, and now Shedeur Sanders will likely miss Saturday’s game because of an oblique injury (again, what is going on in that room?) and hinder any chance to climb up the depth chart. (By the way, my review of Sanders’ preseason opener is that his own grade of a C+ was accurate.)

The price might never be higher for McKee, but he could still be an interesting dart to throw for a Browns team that is constantly looking for their next hope at the position. And, in my opinion, McKee has a way higher chance of actually turning into a viable starter than what they currently have in the room. He even fits the preferred offensive system of Kevin Stefanski like a glove. The Browns don’t have real playoff aspirations in 2025, and I’m going to assume that general manager Andrew Berry made inquiries this offseason about McKee — they did end up trading for Kenny Pickett from that same Eagles quarterback room — but perhaps they sweeten the pot for a more known commodity than perhaps trotting out another young quarterback behind what could be a reworked offensive line in 2026.

This is just pure speculation on my part, and almost certainly just me trying to figure out who Pepe Silvia is. Eagles reporters like Zach Berman of The Athletic think McKee’s market truly opens in 2026.

The Eagles are very aware of McKee’s talents, and probably want to have insurance for another good roster in 2025 before deciding anything as drastic as trading a quality quarterback away. There are always quarterback seats in the offseason, and there are plenty of teams with starters in 2025 that might be question marks in January (Jets, Colts, Steelers amongst them), so a more robust market can form. There is also an interesting 2026 quarterback class to consider and the allure of the unknown with their cost-controlled contract, so it is a market that might just plateau altogether. Plus, there’s Arch Manning lurking ,who looks like a real deal No. 1 pick candidate whenever he declares.

That was a long aside about McKee’s market, but back to the original point: McKee is a fun watch. Check him out Saturday.

Now for some more week one preseason standouts to check out this weekend.

Austin Booker, Edge, Chicago Bears

Austin Booker, a 2024 fifth-round selection, was selected as a project who would likely need some team to fill out his frame and continue to develop and harness his length and explosiveness.

Against mostly backups on the Dolphins’ offensive line last weekend (there were a handful of snaps against the starting group, but still not exactly a bunch of world beaters to begin with), Booker terrorized Miami’s group of jittery quarterbacks, finishing with six pressures, three sacks and a run stuff thrown in for good measure.

Booker has put on some notable weight and strength from his rookie season, which has really helped him stay off of blocks and become a better run defender and get more push into the pocket on passing plays. The Dolphins’ offensive line is weak this season, but it’s good to see Booker consistently overwhelm them as opposed to just flashing. He is projected to be used as a rotational player at first this season, but could earn even more playing time, especially on passing downs, if he continues to ascend this preseason. The Bills’ offensive line should be a step up for him on Sunday, even if it’s their backups, I’m looking forward to seeing if Booker can keep consistently affecting the game and forcing his way onto the field.

Giovanni Manu, OT, Detroit Lions

Manu was the first player drafted out of the University of British Columbia when the Lions took him last year in the fourth round. He is, unsurprisingly, still raw as a player, but already showed notable improvement in the first preseason game against the Falcons.

Manu has outlandish tools, standing all of 6-7 and listed at 350 pounds. He is an excellent athlete for his size and is an easy mover who can adjust well to moving defenders. He still has to improve his hand technique and initial pop when contacting defenders, but already shows snaps of sound play. Even current weaknesses, like getting too high on his blocks, can be fixable given Manu’s natural athleticism, especially under the development of offensive line coach Hank Fraley.

The Lions wouldn’t be comfortable starting Manu if there was a game this week, he’s still early in his development, but the arrow is firmly pointing up with his development and even as a possible successor to Taylor Decker at left tackle down the road. The Lions play the Dolphins on Saturday, where he should get another heaping of reps.

Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets

Armand Membou, OT, New York Jets

The Jets’ passing game might be inconsistent this season, but they’re quietly (or at least as quiet as any New York Jets discussion can be) assembling one of the NFL’s best young offensive lines. Olu Fashanu looked great as a rookie left tackle before succumbing to injury, Alijah Vera-Tucker still stands out with his strength when he’s on the field, and now the Jets have added Membou on the right side. Membou looked good against the Packers, with quality pass protection reps and his balance showing up as both a run and pass blocker. Look for a fun matchup against the Giants’ talented front (more on that in a second) this weekend.

Allen broke off a nice run in his return to Wisconsin last weekend and has already flashed plenty in his young career. He has an ideal size-speed combination and ran with a nice blend of patience and burst as a rookie. The Jets have several talented young backs with Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis alongside Allen, but I think Allen is going to keep earning a bigger and bigger share of this backfield as time goes on.

Abdul Carter, Edge, New York Giants

Yeah, the No. 3 pick? He’s got some stuff to him.

Carter racked up pressures against the Bills on limited snaps. Including a snap of how he might create his most damage in the NFL: as an interior pass rusher lined up against guards when the Giants trot out their Gen Z “NASCAR” package (F1? Mario Kart World?). The Giants’ defense might be one of the NFL’s better units this year, led by their tenacious front with Carter, Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns.

The Giants play the Jets on Saturday, hopefully we get some Carter vs. Membou (and/or Fashanu) to wet our beaks with a preseason hoss fight until September starts.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

The fourth-round rookie had eight touches for 40 yards and a touchdown in his first preseason action against the Steelers. He put together a few strong runs, showcasing some real balance and burst, along with toughness and play strength on his 8-yard touchdown.

It was only single-digit touches, and Tuten has known fumbling issues dating back to college. But I think he already deserves more touches in this offense. I say this both because Tuten was impressive but also because I already know what the rest of the Jaguars’ running back veterans are, and I think he already has more to him than what the Jaguars have in their backfield. He has more juice as a runner than Tank Bigsby and is more physical between the tackles than Travis Etienne (and has better vision than both). I don’t think he’s in line right away for 20 touches in Week 1, but I think Tuten is going to continue to earn more touches in this potentially explosive Jaguars offense, especially if he can hold onto the football (Now if they could just have drafted one more offensive lineman.)

The Jaguars play the Saints on Sunday morning. Look for Tuten to get another steady diet of touches and look to earn more when the regular season hits.

Aireontae Ersery, OT, Houston Texans

I thought Ersery, a second-round selection in May who ranked 30th on my final big board, had a good first showing against the Vikings. Ersery was calm against pressures and stayed constantly balanced and in a good position as a pass protector. Most importantly, he was strong in the run game, something the Texans desperately need.

Ersery played at left tackle in the preseason opener, and his positive performance makes it look like he has to start at one of the tackle spots for Houston this year. The Texans just need to find five starters that can walk and chew gum at the same time, and Ersery is establishing himself as one of them. The Texans are reigning AFC champions and the favorites to win the division again this year, with a lot of their success contingent on their offensive line not being amongst the worst in the NFL. Ersery hitting the ground running would go a long way in helping.

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