In due time, the New York Jets will learn whether Zach Wilson, their first-round quarterback out of BYU, is truly equipped to handle big-market expectations, staunch criticism, and tabloid fodder.
But, until that day arrives, count on the franchise remaining steadfast in its belief that Wilson is primed for success under the bright lights.
"The thing that really stood out about Zach was the decision-making, the anticipation, and the accuracy, which are key components in this West Coast offense that [Jets offensive coordinator] Mike LaFleur is bringing over from San Francisco," Jets general manager Joe Douglas told the Tiki and Tierney show on Tuesday. "On top of that, the athleticism, the confidence, the leadership, there's a lot to be excited about about Zach. And then to get the opportunity a little later on to go out to Provo, spend some time at the pro day, just to stand next to him and see him interact with his coaches and teammates and put on a show at the pro day, very impressive...
"When we finished our process and added it all up, added all the pieces to this puzzle, it was pretty clear that this was the clear direction we wanted to go in... When we went in with our coaches and talked about every quarterback, it was pretty clear-cut who we thought could come in and really help us..."
Wilson, who was ranked the second-overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' NFL Draft Big Board, played 12 games games under center for BYU as a junior in 2020. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder finished the regular season with 3,692 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, and in late December, he led the Cougars to a blowout win in the Bacon Raton Bowl by completing 26-of-34 passes for 425 yards and three scores.
Considering that the Jets currently don't have a veteran quarterback on their roster to serve as a mentor or placeholder, Wilson will likely enter training camp as the team's starting quarterback. But, unsurprisingly, Douglas stressed that each player will have to earn regular season snaps.
"We've got to Zach in here, like [head coach Robert Saleh] said after we drafted him," Douglas said. "He's got to meet his teammates. He's got to dive into the playbook. He's got to walk before he can run. And every rookie has to earn it, every player on this team has to earn it, every day. So, that's step one -- just getting Zach here, getting him comfortable, getting him around his teammates, and letting Zach be Zach.
"And I think Coach [Saleh] couldn't have echoed it any better. We're trying to create an organization that can lift up any player, not the other way around. So, Zach's going to have great teammates, and he's going to have a great support staff around him, and we just want Zach to be himself."
By drafting Wilson, the Jets are no longer considered a potential trade suitor for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, should the Green Bay Packers choose to move him in the coming weeks or months. When asked about the rumors surrounding the reigning league MVP, Douglas mentioned how it's incumbent upon all general managers to make and take phone calls.
"When there's opportunities that come up -- I've said it before -- you try to do due diligence on everything," Douglas said. "Without getting into specifics, I don't think any of that was a real opportunity there. It's really not for me to even speculate on. But, we had a plan going into the weekend, and we feel like we did a good job executing it."
The entire conversation between Douglas and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
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