17 Rookie QBs Draw Final Preseason Grades as 53-Man Roster Cuts Loom

Q: Why did a spectacular 30-yard catch fail to save one rookie from the brutal reality of NFL roster cuts?

It failed because one highlight play could not overcome Seattle’s roster math and Henderson’s overall place on the depth chart. Emmanuel Henderson Jr.’s 30-yard catch in the preseason finale against Kansas City was one of the better flashes by a Seahawks rookie that week, and he finished the game with three catches for 58 yards while also handling kickoff returns. But the broader reporting makes clear that Seattle still viewed him as a fringe roster candidate, not a lock. He had only four catches for 65 yards across the preseason, and evaluators noted that while he showed explosiveness, his route timing and consistency were still uneven. The bigger issue was competition. Seattle had established veterans and higher-priority options ahead of him at receiver, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton already occupying clear spots. The remaining jobs came down to a crowded battle among depth receivers, and Montorie Foster Jr.’s emergence further tightened Henderson’s path. That is why the catch did not save him from final cuts: the decision was based less on one late preseason moment than on the full body of work, roster balance and special-teams value relative to others. Seattle waived the sixth-round pick during its reduction to 53 players, then brought him back on the practice squad after he cleared waivers. That outcome suggests the Seahawks still see developmental upside, but not enough immediate value to justify an opening-day roster spot.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Aug 31

Seventeen rookie quarterbacks were graded after the final week of the 2026 NFL preseason, with Ty Simpson and Joe Fagnano earning A's while several fringe roster hopefuls finished with F-level outings.
Those evaluations land just before cut-down day, when late-round picks and undrafted passers must either crack a 53-man roster or turn their preseason tape into a practice-squad opportunity elsewhere.
Simpson capped a strong summer for the Rams by going 18-of-23 for 119 yards and a touchdown, while Ravens rookie Fagnano went 19-of-27 for 162 yards and two total scores.
At the other end, Raiders No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza threw an interception in a 7-of-14, 57-yard finale, and Patriots rookie Behren Morton was tagged with an F after two interceptions.
The final-week report follows broader preseason rookie grading across the league, but this installment zeroed in on quarterbacks as teams make their last roster decisions.