Jets rookie QB Sam Darnold did exactly what he wanted in his NFL debut: He got a win. He also had himself a pretty good game in the box score.

Darnold's first pass had the worst possible outcome in a pick-six, but he bounced back immediately. Overall, he finished 16-for-21 for 198 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also had a 116.8 quarterback rating in the end.

So, how does this long-awaited debut stack up against past quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft? Here are a few debuts from "The Sanchize" to "Broadway Joe."

Geno Smith - Sept. 8, 2013 vs. Buccaneers

Drafted in the second round of the same year, Smith came out of West Virginia looking to do exactly what Darnold is attempting now -- change the quarterback narrative for the team. It didn't start off badly as Smith and the Jets edged out the Bucs, 18-17.

Smith managed to rack up 256 yards on 24-for-38 in the air with one touchdown and one interception on the day. He finished with an 80.6 quarterback rating as well.

That may have been his debut, but Smith's time with the Jets is mostly remembered in a bad light after spending the 2013 and 2014 seasons as their starter.

Mark Sanchez - Sept. 13, 2009 vs. Texans

The 23-year-old Sanchez preceded Smith after being drafted fifth overall by the Jets out of USC. And this debut was a promising one as well.

Sanchez totaled 272 yards on 18-for-31 throwing with one touchdown, one interception, and an 84.3 quarterback rating. The Jets would go on to defeat Houston 24-7, and "The Sanchize" was officially born.

Though Sanchez led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010, he was eventually cast away two seasons later after sub-par play.

Chad Pennington - Oct. 6, 2002 vs. Chiefs

Pennington was drafted 15th overall by the Jets in 2000, but unlike the previous two quarterbacks, he didn't start in his rookie season. Instead, he waited two years before he got his shot in the starting role, but he made the best of it.

Playing the Chiefs at home, Pennington totaled 237 yards on a very efficient 22-for-29 through the air with two touchdowns and one interception. He also had an impressive 108 quarterback rating.

Pennington spent eight years with the Jets before finishing his final three seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins.

Browning Nagle - Sept. 6, 1992 vs. Falcons

Nagle has gone down in Jets history as one of their biggest draft busts after taking him 34th overall in 1991. But that wasn't the case when Nagle made his first start for the Jets to open the 1992 season.

Facing the Falcons, Nagle went 21-for-37 for a whopping 366 yards, two touchdowns, and finished with a 108.6 quarterback rating. The Jets did end up losing, but the team was confident it had a viable starter under center after this performance.

That clearly wasn't the case as the next game against the Steelers saw a completely different result. After going 9-for-29 for 117 yards and one interception, Nagle was taken out with Ken O'Brien replacing him. Nagle would play only 11 more games with the Jets before parting ways.

Joe Namath - Sept. 26, 1965 vs. Bills

Coming out of Alabama, the Jets took Namath with the first overall pick in the 1965 AFL Draft. And though he didn't start the season opener against the Chiefs, Namath was put in the saddle for Week 2 against the Bills.

Though "Broadway Joe" would end up getting a gold jacket while securing the only Jets Super Bowl title in Super Bowl III, he probably wants to forget about his starting debut. Namath went 19-for-40 for 287 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, which came out to a 67.4 quarterback rating. The Jets went on to lose 33-21.

But that was one of a few blips in Namath's Hall-worthy career.

Fun Fact: Darnold isn't the only prized rookie to throw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Brett Favre did the same with the Falcons in 1991.

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