New York Jets first-round pick Zach Wilson has lofty expectations to be the next franchise quarterback and bring Gang Green back to the playoffs.
But some are already expecting the No. 2 overall pick to be a bust.
FS1’s Colin Cowherd likened Wilson to another quarterback who was seen as the answer to turn a downtrodden franchise around only to flame out due to problems both on and off the field.
“Zach Wilson reminds me a little too much of Johnny Manziel,” Cowherd said on his show on Tuesday. “Small, cocky and comes from wealth. Hope he does well. There’s a little Johnny Manziel here.”
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Cowherd listed things Wilson indeed has in common with Manziel, but Manziel entered the NFL with the reputation as a partier and somewhat arrogant attitude that may have stood in his way to being successful on the field.
There has not, at least publicly, been any concern about Wilson’s attitude and the BYU product is likely not the same party animal as Manziel.
Whether or not Wilson is just another Johnny Manziel on the field still remains to be seen.
The 22-year-old is only in his third week of training camp, but struggled in a recent simulated game.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh preached patience with Wilson and pointed toward Peyton Manning’s struggles his rookie season, an example that left Cowherd befuddled.
“New rule…let’s stop comparing quarterbacks who played 23 years ago to today,” he said. “You know I love Peyton Manning…but Peyton Manning played in a different era.”
Wilson may turn out to be neither Manziel nor Manning, but the Jets certainly hope he is the one to turn the franchise around.
The Jets have not been to the postseasons since 2010 — marking the longest drought in the NFL.
If Wilson is going to be the one to lead them there, fans will have a difficult time being patient if he gets off to a slow start.
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