In six days, the New York Jets will, in all likelihood, select BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, and fail to shock any football fan or analyst in the process.
But is this the right move? Should the Jets stick to the Wilson plan?
The answer is no, according to former NFL cornerback and current CBS Sports HQ NFL analyst Bryant McFadden. He believes that New York should reevaluate its options, and draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields instead.
"The competition [that Wilson faced in college] is not the same as what Justin Fields played against," McFadden told CBS Sports Radio's Tiki and Tierney show on Friday. "Zach Wilson, if you go back and watch his BYU tape -- not last year, but the year before that and the year before that -- he struggled. He struggled. And I can tell you this much: if Zach Wilson opted out last year, Zach Wilson probably wouldn't have gotten drafted until Round 5 or 6, because his tape was so inconsistent in 2019 and 2018. But, if you look at 2020, he balled out -- he took advantage of the opportunity. Justin Fields played against better competition.
"Justin Fields, week in and week out, he was the guy who everyone was hunting, because he was the big fish in the sea. He was the ultimate animal in the jungle. So, he understood what it takes to play under the brightest lights, in the biggest moments... If you're talking about a kid in Justin Fields, who's been playing at Ohio State, gotten better, and balled out on some of the biggest stages in a consistent effort, I'd go the opposite direction [and take Fields over Wilson at No. 2]..."
Wilson, the No. 2 overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' NFL Draft Big Board, played 12 games under center for BYU in 2020, and finished the campaign with 3,662 total passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior also led the Cougars to an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl, where he completed 26-of-34 passes for 425 yards and three scores en route to a blowout win over Central Florida.
As for Fields, who turned 22 in March, he's the third overall prospect and third-ranked quarterback, per Pro Football Focus. Due to the pandemic and a restructured Big Ten conference schedule, he only played in eight games this past season. But, Fields made the most of his opportunities on the field, as he threw for 2,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for five scores, and led the Buckeyes to a national championship game appearance.
According to Spotrac.com, the estimated total value of the second overall pick's contract is $33.2 million, and the estimated signing bonus is $21.5 million.
The entire NFL conversation between McFadden and Tiki & Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.